Well Head Protection Program
What is Wellhead Protection?
Wellhead protection is a method of preventing contamination of a public water supply well by effectively managing potential contaminant sources in the area which contributes water to the well.
Your “Wellhead Protection Area” (WHPA) is the land surface surrounding the well where rainfall trickles down to the groundwater and is then pumped out from your well. This “recharge zone” is the area that potentially affects your source water, and is also called the “Source Water Protection Area” (SWPA).
Wellhead protection helps safeguard commu-nity water supplies; while your community has developed a wellhead protection plan, every-one needs to get involved for the plan to be successful!
Why Does Source Water Protection Matter to Me?
- The quality of drinking water affects public health.
- The quality of drinking water affects the economic well-being of our communities.
- Once water is contaminated:
- Clean-up is costly and may not be feasible.
- Required treatment adds to man-agement and operating costs.
- Developing new sources is expensive.
What are the Threats to My Drinking Water?
Contaminants introduced at the land surface may infiltrate to the water table and flow toward points of discharge such as drinking water wells and streams. Potential threats in your wellhead protection area include underground storage tanks, septic systems, heating oil tanks, private wells, and overuse of fertilizers and pesticides. Replacing a well can cost between $200,000-$400,000 and treating a contaminated well can cost even more.
Activities that occur in your home and your yard can affect everyone’s drinking water! The Leatherwood water system has always had a clean water supply that has met state regula-tions. There are some simple steps that we can take to keep our water supply safe for many years to come!
View more information about our well head programs in the following brochures:
For questions regarding any of our Wellhead Protection Plans, contact:
Michael Ward, PE
Director of Regulatory Compliance & Technical Applications
Henry County Public Service Authority