Partnering with State and Federal Agencies 

The Source Water Assessment database and GIS sources continue to be utilized to assist other DEQ programs, especially in the Land Quality Division to identify priority areas for cleanup work: underground storage tanks, heating oil tanks, household hazardous waste areas, dry cleaners, brownfield sites, and site assessments.

DEQ and DHS staff have initiated a joint effort to contact community water systems and make them aware of upcoming Household Hazardous Waste program collection events and Prescription Drug Turn-In Days. DEQ and DHS are providing those water systems with a packet of materials that can be used to inform their customers, rural households, and businesses within their Drinking Water Source Area of each event.

DWP staff are participating as a member of the DEQ Toxics Reduction Team with 10 other DEQ programs. Frequent meetings and discussions center around each program’s participation and authorities related to reducing toxics in Oregon. DWP has provided technical documents and references for toxics data related to drinking water, provided assistance with developing the process for source identification and selecting strategies for pollutant reductions listed in the project reports

Within the Water Quality Division, Source Water Assessment data is used to create priority lists for programs such as UICs, Groundwater Management Area involvement, and to address NPDES, stormwater, and general permit issues. We recently developed tools to allow permit writers and the general public to identify drinking water intakes that are located downstream of permitted discharges. We are providing background information on identification of sources and pathways as well as drinking water system monitoring data and analysis for the Persistent Priority Pollutant project, and for water quality standard rulemaking.

Drinking water protection staff coordinate with the TMDL team to ensure that drinking water source areas are included as beneficial uses during the development of waste load allocations and implementation plans. We have significant interaction with TMDL and 319/Non-Point Source programs as best management practices for water quality improvements are identified and implemented. Examples include evaluating potential sources and providing technical assistance for sites with elevated E. coli in the South Umpqua subbasin and assisting partners in the Siuslaw Watershed including the City of Florence, Siuslaw Watershed Council and the Siuslaw River Estuary Partnership in water quality protection strategies targeting toxic algae, bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants.

The Source Water Assessment database and GIS sources continue to be utilized to assist other DHS projects, especially in the emergency spill response notification network, plan review process, groundwater under the direct influence of surface water monitoring program, and wellfield analysis determinations. Using the GIS resources, DHS is working toward updating maps that identify sources of naturally-occurring asbestos with respect to Source Water Areas, thus identifying water systems that should be conducting asbestos monitoring. DHS continues to make the connection (for community water systems), between developing source water protection strategies and their annual Consumer Confidence Report. DHS is working toward doing the same with the Groundwater Rule.

Oregon continued to promote the use of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) monies for drinking water protection grants. DHS and DEQ revised and updated the SRF drinking water protection grant process in 2008. DEQ and DHS reviewed and ranked the applicants for the 2008-09 grant cycle. In addition, DWP staff from both agencies will update the SRF Loan application ranking procedure again to improve the evaluation of source water protection grant applications.

DEQ and DHS regularly provide input to 5 to 6 cities and counties per year that are reviewing their land use plans under Oregon’s comprehensive land use planning process (“Periodic Review”). The letters to communities included detailed information regarding their water sources, maps of the source areas, and specific recommendations and guidance for drinking water protection. Groundwater source areas for larger communities can also be designated as “significant resources” under Goal 5 per DLCD’s rules if the community prepares a protection plan and requests that designation.

DEQ and DLCD updated model ordinance language that jurisdictions can use to protect drinking water. The model ordinance will also be added to an updated version of Oregon’s Water Quality Model Code and Guidebook which will be published in 2010. The Water Quality Model Code and Guidebook is a companion to the Model Development Code and User’s Guide for Small Cities. It provides many land use planning resources for jurisdictions to use at the local level to reduce the cumulative impact of development activities that result in degradation of streams, lakes and groundwater.

DEQ continues to work with ODA and ODF to raise the profile of the need for drinking water protection in Oregon. Source Water Assessment data has been provided to these agencies to facilitate incorporation of strategies to protect sensitive areas into their respective programs and regional implementation where appropriate.

DEQ participates in RipStream and DEPP work to improve Oregon Forest Practices Act rules for stream protection to benefit both aquatic habitat and drinking water.

In 2009 and 2010, the general NPDES permit for Confined Animal Feeding Operations in Oregon was renewed. DEQ assisted ODA in notifying public water systems about permit renewals within their respective Drinking Water Source Areas. 

WRD, DEQ, ODA, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) have been given the responsibility to develop Oregon’s Integrated Water Resource Strategy. The drinking water team submitted data on drinking water system needs for this effort including a list of water system sources that had to be closed over the past five years due to water quantity or quality issues.

DHS continues to work with the Oregon Water Resources Department and various consultants to encourage the development of source water protection in conjunction with Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) projects. The effort involves making joint presentations associated with ASR sustainability; reviewing proposed ASR projects during the Limited License and Permit application processes; and reviewing License/Permit modifications and/or extensions.

Oregon State Marine Board

DEQ has provided drinking water intake locations with the associated river mile information to OSMB for use in evaluating areas to prioritize outreach activities for the Clean Marina and Clean Boater Programs. Many Oregon rivers used for recreation and boating also provide drinking water to downstream communities. An analysis has not been done for the sources of contamination, but 17 public water systems have had petroleum products detected in their drinking water. Using the Source Water Assessment database, the data shows there are also 56 surface water PWSs with potential boat use areas upstream, including Source Water Assessment categories Marina/Houseboats/Boat Launch/Fueling Area, Upstream Reservoirs/Dams, River Recreation - Heavy Use (inc. campgrounds), and Boat Services/Repair/Refinishing.

Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshall

DEQ worked with the State Fire Marshall’s office to create a GIS spatial data set of the Hazardous Substance Information Survey (HSIS) database.  The HSIS information is now available to the Drinking Water Protection Program for spatial analysis of these potential contaminant sites (PCS) for inclusion in source water assessments or for other technical assistance work to reduce risk of drinking water contamination.

Oregon Department of Geology & Mineral Industries

DEQ is using DOGAMI landslide data and LIDAR imagery to evaluate risks to drinking water intakes. This data and GIS mapping will also be used in future assessments of earthquake and Climate Change risks to public water systems.

Oregon Business Development Department

DWP staff work with OBDD’s Business, Innovation & Trade Division to identify and prioritize the redevelopment of brownfields located within drinking water source areas. A brownfield is real property where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by actual or perceived environmental contamination. Redeveloping brownfields promotes economic development while also protecting environmental and human health.

US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management

DEQ continues to work with federal agencies to raise the profile of the need for drinking water protection in Oregon. For example, DEQ and other water quality programs submitted comments toward the BLM Western Region Plan Revisions which would have affected management decisions on 2.5 million acres of forest and rangeland in Oregon. Source water assessment data has also been provided to several other agencies to facilitate incorporation of protection strategies into their respective programs.

Significant improvements continue to be made in accessibility of the Source Water Assessment data. Maps and downloadable statewide GIS shapefiles of drinking water source area coverages and identified potential sources of contamination are available on DEQ's Drinking Water Protection website. Drinking water source areas can now also be identified (and selected as a search criteria) for both DEQ's Facility Profiler (a location based system showing DEQ permit holders and cleanup sites) and DEQ's LASAR (Laboratory Analytical Storage and Recovery for air and water quality monitoring data). The source water assessment data is also available from other Oregon websites, including the OSU Institute for Natural Resources and the Oregon Geospatial Data Clearinghouse.