Project Profile

Introduction

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996 require states to implement Source Water Assessment Plans (SWAP) to better protect public drinking water from contamination. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) has developed a guideline for SWAP implementation in Missouri. The identification of potential contamination sources in areas that might affect a public drinking water source is an important component of this plan. These contaminant inventories must be completed by May 2003, to satisfy requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

Objectives

The intent of this project is to perform source water inventories as described in the MoDNR Drinking Water Source Water Assessment Plan. The project will focus on preparing databases for contaminant inventory support and collecting on-site data to improve contaminant inventories within source water areas.  Work will be performed for both surface and ground water systems. 

Specific Tasks Include

• Maintain a list of databases to be geo-referenced.  The specific number of databases will remain flexible.  Agency and University staff will jointly determine the inclusion/exclusion of any database.

• Acquire suitable base map information (DOQQs) for areas to be inventoried.

• Geographically reference the records in the selected data bases. Initial location will be based on information provided in the data bases. Improved positional information may be derived from DRGs (Digital Raster Graphics – digital USGS topographic maps), DOQQs (Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles – digital black & white aerial photography), regional office visits or on-site visits, or Global Positioning System (GPS).

• Continue to cooperate with the Division of Geology and Land Survey within the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
• Map source water area contaminant inventories for community systems using groundwater.  Areas with concentrations of non-community systems will be mapped as well.  This will involve integrating data acquired from statewide databases with information collected from on-site visits.  A minimum of 750 wellhead source water areas will be inventoried.  Inventory reports, by system, will be generated and provided to the agency.
• When expedient, georeference records in the selected database outside the source water area.  Areas with high concentrations of non-community wells, many database records, or near community source water areas will receive high priority.
• Complete land use mapping of surface water source areas.  Update existing land use data as field reconnaissance information becomes available. Ground verification of these watersheds will not be conducted as part of this agreement.

For an overview of procedures used in field data collection click here.

Principal Investigators: Chris Fulcher and Chris Barnett

Project Manager:  Craig Callison

Project Staff:  Erin Wilson and Stan Wood

Funding Amount: FY99: $80,000, FY00: $134,473, FY01: $134,473, FY02: $134,473, FY03: $147,054

Funding Source: Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR)

Project Duration: December 1998 - December 2003