2009 Issue

12 P RINCIPAL SOURCES OF GROUNDWATER CON- TAMINATION originate from land spreading of pollution, technically referred to as the one fromnon-point sources, and end of the pipe disposal or concentrated source of pollution, referred to as the one from point sources. Ap- plication of pesticides, fertilizers, manure in agro industries and disposal of humanwastewater from septic tank-drainfield type systems are examples of non-point sources. Point sources range from feedlots and impoundments, waste, hazardous or non hazardous, storage sites, mine excavations and dewatering, waste rock and tailings disposal sites, process chemicals ponds, solution ponds, oil drilling mud disposal, municipal and industrial landfills, impoundments for municipal wastewater, stormwater and industrial wastewater. Sixty per- cent of groundwater pollution is estimated to be contributed by non-point sources. In 1991, the UtahWater Quality Board adopted a groundwater quality protection rule to protect valuable groundwater resources. Mr. Robert Barnes, principal author of the rule, rallied the stakeholders and got the rule adopted. The original version is still intact with very little update since adoption. This rule provides for groundwater classification as basis for protecting groundwater, assessment of groundwater quality and adminis- trative procedures for implementation of protec- tion standards for appropriate beneficial uses. The program implementation followed with develop- ment of permit issuance, data management, and oversight systems, and community education and outreach activities. Agricultural Sources: Utah agriculture is the largest water consumer in the State and uses about half of the total groundwater withdrawn from wells. Detailed description of agricultural contamination is not possible due to the lack of reliable data; however, certain issues appear to be of more concern than others due to levels of activity and management practices. Economics of best management practices adversely affect implementation of such practices. At a national level, fertilizers and pesticides applications have been acknowledged as principal contributors to groundwater contamination. Laws and rules covering fertilizer and soil enhancement products do not address poor ap- plication practices which result in groundwater contamination. Utah Department of Agriculture did an assessment of groundwater contamina- tion potential in the predominant agricultural areas in Utah, including shallow well sampling to examine quality of private well water in relation to agricultural chemical use as early as 1988. Animal waste is found in large volumes on agri- cultural feedlots. Thesewastes have contaminated shallow aquifers in the Midwest. In Utah, small feedlots and liveries have created significant lo- cal problems. Water from a shallow-unconfined aquifer in Salt Lake Valley was found to have nitrate -nitrogen concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 86 milligrams per liter, with some of the higher concentrations occurring in water fromwells near animal-confinement areas. To date there is no evidence of contamination from these feedlots affecting deep aquifers (100 feet or greater in depth) in Salt Lake Valley. Feedlots are regulated under the Utah Pollut- ant Discharge Elimination System (UPDES) rules, policies and permit. As much as the surface water protection remains the focus such permitting, the importance monitoring of the quality of ground- water by permit holders cannot be minimized. Onsite Septic Tank-drainfield Systems: An estimated thirty percent of Utah’s population is served by onsite systems. In other words, more than one billion gallons per year of partially treated wastewater is subterraneously discharged. When subterraneous discharge occurs in close prox- imity of water table, potential for groundwater contamination due to inadequate treatment is substantially high. The US Environmental Protec- tion Agency [EPA] found such subterraneous discharges as the source of contamination in rural areas. Biological contamination from pathogenic Utah’s Groundwater Protection Program WILLIAM E. DAMERY, P.G. AND KIRAN L. BHAYANI, P.E., D.EE , F.ASCE UTAH DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY Because groundwater is such an important water resource in Utah, protection of its quality is essential. Twenty percent of water used originates from groundwater supplies. As much as sixty percent of public drinking water systems rely on groundwater. organisms is the greatest concern and highly de- pendent on environmental factors. Pathogenic organisms survive for 170 days and travel 600 feet even in less than ideal environments. Many other inorganic and organic contaminants have been documented with subterraneous disposal systems. Local health departments regulate the construction of onsite systems. Septic tank efflu- ent is required to be discharged below the ground but above themaximumgroundwater table, in the surrounding area. Resource constraints and local political pressures complicate strict implemen- tation of onsite system rules, and consequently groundwater protection. Hazardous-Waste Sources: Public aware- ness of the contamination potential of hazard- ous waste disposal and generation has been directly responsible for legislative measures to protect human health and the environment. In Utah, the disposal and handling of hazardous waste is regulated by the Utah Hazardous Waste Management Regulations administered by the Utah Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste. These are essentially equivalent to the federal hazardous-waste regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Subsequent amendments to this act included the regulation of underground storage tanks. Investigations of inactive and abandoned hazardous-waste sites under the authority of the Comprehensive Envi- ronmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act occur in cooperation with EPA. Likewise, hazardous waste sites listed under this act pres- ent a threat to groundwater quality. Of the known tanks, 80 percent hold petroleum products or fuel; of these, one-half do not have corrosion-resistant coating protection which meets industry code. If a tank system is more than ten years old, and lacks corrosion protection, the potential for leaking increases dramatically. Mining and Mine-Related Sources: Utah has a long and varied history of mining, and a diverse mixture of coal and mineral extraction continues. Several of these mines will have impacts on be- tween 10,000 and 16,000 acres in the mining area over the projected life of the mine. The effects of land subsidence caused by the extraction of the coal seam and related to the existing fracture system may increase groundwater flow or divert surface water or spring discharge underground. Consequently to facilitate mining in areas where groundwater can enter amine at large rates, there may be an increased need for diversion and de- watering of the area’s aquifer system. This in turn exposes sulfide mineral to the air and enhances