Implementing wellhead protection: A multiple case study

Source water protection is a first step in a multi-barrier approach for protecting drinking water supplies (Ernst, 2004; MOE, 2004b). Municipalities reliant on groundwater are better able to protect municipal source water supplies through the use of wellhead/well field protection programs (EPA, 1993, 1991). Wellhead protection is achieved through regulatory and non-regulatory land use management tools such as: overlay zoning, easements and public education (Witten et. al. 1995; Jaffe & Dinovo, 1987). However, given the complex nature of groundwater and human influences, management tools are not always capable of adjusting to changes in the environment (Environment Canada, 2004). An adaptive management framework provides water resource managers with the ability to address uncertainty in the natural environment and establish a more flexible means of managing groundwater resources (Lee, 1993; Mitchell, 1997). This thesis explores four exemplary groundwater protection programs: two in Ontario, one in Pennsylvania and one in Ohio. The selected groundwater protection programs provide insight into wellhead protection development and implementation, while highlighting the presence or absence of adaptive management practices. Although, the municipalities share commonalities, each one contributes to a greater understanding of groundwater protection and the challenges municipalities encounter protecting source water supplies.