Kentucky Division of Water

Wellhead Protection Program

Source Water Protection Assistance Program Guidelines

December 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this assistance program is to provide financial assistance to public water systems (PWSs) or entities directly involved with PWSs (i.e.: counties, cities, and towns served by the PWS) for source water protection projects. The Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAPP), including the Wellhead Protection Program (WHPP),aims to prevent water supply contamination by management of potential contaminant sources within a designated land area around a drinking water source. As part of the Source Water Protection planning process, the water system must create management strategies to prevent potential contaminant sources from impacting theirwater supply. These strategies can also address current contamination concerns for the system. Projects funded with this assistance program should take a proactive approach to prevent potential source water protection problems and/or address existing challenges. If the project addresses an existing problem, the source of the problem must also be addressed.Project categories include but are not limited to:

  • Unused water well abandonment by a certified water well driller per 401 KAR 6:310
  • Public education to raise awareness about source water and wellhead protection
  • Best Management Practices (BMPs)
  • Implementation of management strategies already defined in Division of Water approved Source Water or Wellhead Protection Plans
  • Additional funds to aid in active watershed protection activities

Background

Many activities occurring within source water protection areas have the potential to negatively impact drinking water quality and/or quantity. When managed correctly using BMPs and other source water protection strategies, most of the activities will not affect drinking water. However, it is often difficult for a water system or local government to ensure that these potential contaminant sources are being properly managed. Often,implementation of various management strategies requiresfinancial assistance.

This program is one option water systems and local governments can utilize to research and implement source water protection measures specific to their protection area. These projects may require PWSs or government entities to work with local landowners, local media, watershed groups, and many others to achieve their source water protection goals.

This program contributes to achieving EPA’s Strategic Goal 2: “Clean and Safe Water,” sub-objective 2.1.1 – “Water Safe to Drink,” and is also consistent with the following Kentucky Division of Water’s Operational Plan objectives:

  • Objective 1 – Protect, Manage And Restore Water Resources
  • Objective 2 –Conduct Effective Water Resources Planning

Funding Requirements

Projects seeking funding from the assistance program for sourcewater protection should address one or more of the following areas:

  • Implement management strategies identified in a previous source water, wellhead, or watershed protection plan
  • Use existing and/or collect new data to better understand conditions in a specific protection area, analyze the collected data, and develop a plan to implement proposed solutions
  • Engage the public in source water protection through public education and outreach strategies (e.g.: brochures, mailings, demonstrations, TV or radio announcements, etc.)
  • Produce clear deliverables that enable utilities, local governments, and the Division of Water to take action to improve public health through source water protection (e.g.: developing ordinances, protecting critical zones around drinking water sources.)

To receive funding, eligible entities must:

  • Identify the main potential contaminant sources or objectives that will be addressed by the project (e.g., nonpoint source pollution, improperly abandoned wells, public awareness)
  • Prepare and submit an application that meets the funding criteria below
  • Negotiate and enter into a financial contract with the Division of Water
  • Carry out the project as described in the contract, including providing deliverables on scheduled due dates according to funding contract requirements

Funding Criteria

Issue
/
Criteria
/
Comments
Funding Availability / Funds are available through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund / Proposals submitted after initial deadline will be considered for following year’s funding
Eligible Projects / Examples include but are not limited to:
  • Third-party facilitation and project management to solve source water protection problems
  • Implementation of previously developed source water protection management strategies
  • BMP installation (agricultural, storm water runoff, etc)
  • Abandonment of unused/improperly abandoned wells per 401 KAR 6:31
  • Source water protection studies
/
  • Projects eligible for capital construction loans cannot be funded through this program
  • All projects must have a direct link to protecting a source of drinking water

Priorities for eligible projects / Projects that address one or more of the following will be given priority:
  • Engage local community in source water protection
  • Build uponan existing wellhead or source water protection plan
  • Utilize groundwater as drinking water source
  • Assist small systems seeking to protect high susceptibility sources (surface water or high/moderate susceptibility groundwater)
/ Projects evaluated at discretion of source water/ wellhead protection program
Eligible Applicants / Public Water System , Municipal Entity, or a Nonprofit under 26 U.S.C. sec.501 (c)(3)
Deliverables / Acceptable deliverables include (but are not limited to):
  • Reports analyzing data, summarizing outcomes and conclusions, and providing recommendations
  • Action or Implementation Plan for using information collected by study (identify future partners, potential funding resources, schedules, etc.)
  • Photographs or any other media documenting source water improvements. i.e. ‘Before and After’ photographs
  • All necessary supporting documents for well abandonment. I.e. Kentucky Well Abandonment Logs.
  • Agreements with any third parties involved for project maintenance if necessary (i.e. BMP upkeep)BMP Implementation Plan
  • GPS data pertaining to activities within the source water protection project area
/ Examples of outcomes, recommendations, or actions:
  • Proposal of city ordinances or planning strategies to protect source
  • Source improvements
  • Well(s) properly abandoned by certified well driller
  • BMPs installed and maintenance contract created
  • Proposal for future work in the area
  • GIS maps displaying source water protection project area

Funding Range / Up to $60,000 / Adjustable at the discretion of the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program
Match / No match is required, but partnerships are encouraged and other funding contributions (including in-kind resources) will be considered during application evaluation / Funding recipients are responsible for paying any costs not covered by this assistance
Application / The application process is a two-step process. Interested parties should fill out the project proposal form and submit to SWAPP by assigned date. Full applications will be requested for eligible projects approximately one month following proposal submission. / Interested parties should submit the proposal formfirst (if approved a full application will be requested)
Timeline / The project timeline for this round of funding is detailed below. Approved projects will need to be completed approximately one year from contract submission. Final requests for reimbursements will be due approximately one year from start date. / A progress report must be submitted along with each reimbursement request. These reports will track all deliverables and activities during the invoice period. These ‘Reimbursement Reports’ have to be approved by DOW staff before requests are granted. A final report will be due no later than 4 months after the final reimbursement deadline.

Process

  1. Source Water Assessment and Protection Program announces funding availability and provides funding guidelines to all interested parties.
  2. Potential applicants may contact SWAPPstaffdirectly to determine initial eligibility.
  3. Submit project proposal form by March 1, 2016, defining project and identifying technical issues and deliverables.
  4. Projects are reviewed by SWAPP staff to determine whether or not the project is a priority and if it meets program guidelines. Staff will contact applicants by phone or email if additional information is required prior to ranking process.
  5. If project is determined to meet program requirements and is a SWAPP priority, SWAPP staff will contact the applicant and request a full application including all of the elements listed above.Full applications should not be filled out until requested by SWAPP. Applicants will be contacted by April 1, 2016.
  6. Applicationssubmitted for review by May 1, 2016, will be reviewed by the SWAPP program as well as staff throughout the Division of Water as necessary.
  7. Following in-house approval and contract development, the contract will be sent to the funding recipient for review and submittal by August 15, 2016.
  8. SWAPP program forwards signed contract to all necessary parties.
  9. SWAPP program manages contract, including tracking deliverables, reviewing educational material, approving reimbursement reports and keeping the funding recipient on schedule.
  10. SWAPP program will review and approve all reimbursement reports before request are granted.
  11. Final deadline for reimbursements is September 1, 2017.
  12. Final Report due January 1, 2018.

Project Guidance for Source Water Protection Assistance Program

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11/15/2018