Newsletter: Water Source Protection

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THIS ARTICLE IS A CASE STUDY OF HISTORICAL PROJECTS HYDROSOLUTIONS HAVE WORKED ON.

A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER COMPILED FOR HYDROGEOLOGICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS IN W.A. MINING
& RESOURCE COMPANIES
WATER SOURCE PROTECTION

Protecting Public Drinking Water Source Areas (PDWSAs)
PDWSAs proclaimed by the Department of Water (DoW) are areas where stormwater run-off & seepage/ infiltration is stored above/ below ground & used to supply community drinking water needs.

Water Source Protection Plans
DoW prepares Water Source Protection Plans (WSPP) for PDWSAs which define water source/s (surface/ groundwater), catchment areas, & landuse management within specified priority (1-3) areas:
• P1: source protection is the prime beneficial landuse
• P2: no increased risk of pollution from existing landuse
• P3: risk minimisation to water source from existing landuse/s
• Wellhead Protection Zone (WHPZ): circle radius 500m in P1, 300m in P2 & P3 areas
• Reservoir Protection Zones: 2km from high water mark
Compatible/ incompatible landuses are defined for each zone. E.g. P1 incompatible landuses include animal husbandry, intensive agriculture, waste/ chemical storage & almost all commercial/ industrial development (DoE 2004). Some countries also specify sanitary protection zones as 50 to 60-day ‘time of travel’ areas to allow die-out of pathogens.

Source Protection Policy in Western Australia
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC 2004) outlines a ‘catchment to consumer’ multiple barrier risk based management approach to the provision, supply & protection of water sources:

• Selection of an appropriate, safe, high quality water source: are alternative source/s within higher natural protective barrier/s available (e.g. confined groundwater)?
• Effective catchment control: what landuse controls are available within the catchment? If none then monitoring is required as a minimum. Are existing landuses compatible with source protection?
• Protection Buffer Zones: define appropriate landuse management areas.
• Risk Assessment: of potential contaminants within the catchment
• Catchment Protection Strategies:
o Education (of landusers)
o Surveillance (monitoring)
o Enforcement: (responsibilities)
o Emergency response: to specific events (e.g. failure of ADW guidelines/ spillage etc)  • Reporting: management, occurrences/ monitoring etc
• Treatment/ disinfection:      requirements & performance monitoring
• Maintenance: e.g. of the distribution/ storage system

Private Drinking Water Supples
WQPN41 (DoW 2006) provides guidance applicable to rural dwellings, remote communities, mining camps & isolated sites on risks to water sources, waste disposal, options for protection, & quality testing.

Sources: Department of Environment & Conservation, Dept of Water, WA, NHMRC 2004

HydroSolutions Pty Ltd
We are a specialist  hydrogeological consultancy providing expert services including investigation, potable & process resource development & dewatering.  Our environmental capabilities include contaminated site investigation, auditing, remediation & risk assessment – qualitative/ quantitative, health, & ecological.

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