Step One

form a community planning team

Environment Environnement
Canada Canada
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data
Main entry under title:
Well protection toolkit [electronic resource]. --

Available on the Internet.

A joint project of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Ministry of
Health and Ministry of Municipal Affairs; with support from Environment
Canada and the B.C. Ground Water Association.
Cf. Acknowledgements.
Issued by: Water Stewardship Division.
ISBN 0-7726-5566-9

1. Wellhead protection - British Columbia. 2. Water quality management

– British Columbia. 3. Groundwater – Management. 4. Wellhead protection.
I. British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. II.
British Columbia. Ministry of Environment. III. British Columbia. Water
Stewardship Division. IV. British Columbia. Ministry of Health. V. British
Columbia. Ministry of Municipal Affairs. VI. Canada. Environment Canada.
VII. British Columbia Ground Water Association.

TD405W44 2004 628.1’1409711 C2006-960110-0

 STEP ONE TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
STEP ONE - Form A Community Planning Team
1.1 Select the Community Planning Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Choose Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Involve Local Authorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Select a Team Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Keep Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Form a Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.2 Gather and Map Background Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Become Familiar with the Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Complete the Well Assessment Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Map the Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Review the Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 Set Goals and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Obtain Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.4 Assign Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.5 Keep the Public Informed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Checklist for Step One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Appendix 1.1 Potential Members and Resources for the Community Planning Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Appendix 1.2 Listing of Regional Health Authorities and Ministry of Environment,
Lands and Parks Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Appendix 1.3 Well Assessment Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Appendix 1.4 Selection of Base Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Case Study: Pumphandle B.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Form a Community Planning Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Gather and Map Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Set Goals and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Assign Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Figures
Figure 1. 1 Step One: Form a Community Planning Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Figure CS 1. 1 Map of the Pumphandle Aquifer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Tables
Table CS 1. 1 Pumphandle Team Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

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 STEP ONE SUMMARY

Figure 1.1 More than 1,000,000 British Columbians rely on

groundwater as their source of drinking water, and
STEP ONE: Form A Community Planning Team there are thousands of community well systems
in British Columbia. A well protection plan allows
Form a Community Planning Team: communities to identify land use activities that
• Select team members may threaten the quality of their well water, and to
• Select team leader
• Involve local authorities develop a strategy to avoid or minimize these threats.
There are six steps to follow in developing a well
Gather and Map Information: protection plan:
• Obtain maps
• Gather available information on water supply
1. Form a community planning team
• Contact groundwater organizations
• Begin mapping information
• Begin to fill out well assessment form
2. Define the well protection area
3. Identify potential contaminants
Inform and Set goals and objectives
involve the • Be specific 4. Develop and implement
public • Establish timelines management strategies
5. Develop contingency plans
Assign tasks Obtain
additional 6. Monitor results and evaluate the plan
technical
expertise
These steps are described in the six booklets that
if required
make up the Well Protection Toolkit. Each booklet
describes activities that lead to the development and
implementation of a well protection plan. In each
step, a fictional case study of the town of Pumphandle
shows how one community took on this challenge.
STEP TWO: Define The Well Protection Area
Step One: Form a Community
STEP THREE: Identify Potential Contaminants Planning Team
The first step is to bring together a “community
STEP FOUR: Develop Management Strategies planning team” that will guide the development
of the well protection plan – making sure that all
STEP Five: Develop Contingency Plans the right groups and individuals are involved in
the activities. The team must then become familiar
with their groundwater supply and the community
STEP SIX: Monitor Results & Evaluate Plan
resources available to help, and set their protection
goals. They will then assign tasks to the team
members, including the job of making sure that the
public is fully informed.
Figure 1.1 shows the stages of Step One.

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 STEP ONE

Form a Community of drinking water, however some of these interests

may conflict. It is important that the full range of

Planning Team interests be considered. The community planning

team must work together to achieve a common set of
goals and objectives.

Ob j e c t i v e s volunteers
In many situations, the community planning team will
• To set up a planning team that includes water rely on the contribution of volunteers. Volunteers are not
purveyors, community members and technical experts paid to participate on the team or in the development
• To coordinate efforts with other agencies of the well protection plan. They are there because of an
interest in protecting their source of drinking water.
• To assess information needs and acquire information The volunteers on the team may be employed, requiring
for the well protection process that team meetings be arranged in the evenings.
The community planning team must consider their
• To develop goals and objectives for the well volunteers and their commitments when assigning tasks,
protection plan setting time lines and scheduling meetings. Working
• To develop an action plan and assign tasks together will get the job done!

Choose Representatives
1.1 Select the Community The water purveyor is a key player in developing
Planning Team a well protection plan. He or she has the strongest
The first step in developing a well protection plan interest in protecting the water supply, and may be
is to bring together a group of people who have in the best position to start the planning process.
the interest and expertise to see the job through. The water purveyor and the community can work
This “community planning team” plays a major role side-by-side to meet the common goal of protecting
in the ongoing success of well protection planning, as the drinking water source.
they are responsible for developing and implementing
How many people should be included? It depends on
the plan. Involving people who are knowledgeable
the size of your community, but six to eight members
about the area, committed to the process and
is a typical size (a larger group may slow the process).
enthusiastic will help to ensure the plan’s success.
Include the people with an interest or a stake in the
Members of the community planning team should well protection area and those that can impact the
be prepared for a long-term commitment to this aquifer and wells by their activities. You may choose
process. Some tasks and projects may take months to have a small core group, with additional members
or even years to complete, and would benefit from recruited for special projects.
continuity in team membership. The water purveyor,
Not everyone has to be a groundwater expert, but it
or owner of the community well and waterworks
is helpful to include some members with technical
system, is often in the best position to initiate the well
or planning expertise. Appendix 1.1 lists the types
protection planning process and to provide the long
of people that might be invited, the experience they
term commitment to see a well protection plan from
would bring and interests they represent.
its beginning steps through to implementation.
Try to include a full range of community interests.
To succeed, the development of the well protection
Invite representatives from the business community
plan must involve a wide range of community
and local environmental group. Are there special
interests. Citizens, business owners, and community
considerations for your area? An agricultural region,
groups all have an interest in protecting their source

W e l l P r o t e c t i o n Too l K i t – S t e p O NE

 STEP ONE

for example, should include a representative from the

Watershed Lessons
farming community.
The US Environmental Protection Agency offers some
Draw up a list of potential team members. Invite
excellent examples of how well-managed groups can
them to join the team. Be sure that they understand
contribute to success in its document Top 10 Watershed
what will be required of them, and that they are
Lessons Learned (publication EPA840-F-97-001).
prepared to commit to the whole process. Once the
These “top ten” lessons apply equally to groundwater
“well protection area” has been defined (Step Two),
and well protection. You can read this document at:
you may wish to review the team’s membership to
www.epa.gov/owow/lessons
ensure that it represents the entire area.

Involve Local Authorities

Keep Records
The support of public officials is equally important.
Developing a well protection plan will result in
Include all agencies with control over the land-use
the collection and accumulation of records, maps,
practices that affect water quality, either as a member
interviews, surveys, photographs and other
of the planning team or by keeping them regularly
documents. The team should secure a place to keep
informed. Regional Health Authority staff (see
the records and find someone to be responsible for
Appendix 1.2) can provide valuable information
maintaining the records over the long term. It is
and guidance on well protection planning, as well as
possible for team members to come and go during
technical support.
the implementation and maintenance of the well
In larger communities, there is greater need for protection plan, but not the records!
local government representation on the community
planning team. Regulatory approaches may be Form a Society
needed to implement the well protection plan, Consider forming a society - a legally identifiable
requiring changes to by-laws or enforcement of entity (see sidebar). This can make it easier to apply
regulations by the municipal or regional government. for grants or loans to help fund the development and
Where there is an industrial base within the well implementation of the well protection plan. Being a
protection area, business interests should be included. society will probably give you more “clout” when
There is a potential for backlash from the business dealing with government, industry and individuals.
community should the well protection plan affect
their operations, so be proactive and involve these on a legal note
interests from the outset.
The Well Protection Toolkit is written with the belief that the
different interests in the well protection area can work together
Select a Team Leader
to meet the ultimate goal of protecting the groundwater.
At your first meeting, select a team leader who will In some cases, the water purveyor or local government may be
coordinate the team’s activities, chair the meetings challenged on their authority to pass new by-laws, or approve
and keep the process going. The water purveyor, other initiatives that could limit certain activities in the well
another local official who is familiar with the protection area. The community planning team should consider
community and local regulations, a well-respected under what circumstances they would need legal advice, and
individual, or a community leader are all possible how they would go about getting that advice.
choices. Select someone who can lead the team
towards success.
Once you have a team and leader, meet to agree on
a process, set out some preliminary ideas on how
you will get started and figure out what information
you will need. Goal and objective setting comes later,
however, you need to start somewhere!

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 STEP ONE

assistance on well protection planning (see sidebar).

forming a society
Call to find out how they can help. The Regional
The Ministry of Finance is responsible for societies. A Health Authority (Appendix 1.2) may also be able to
one-time fee is required to set up as a society. This cost provide technical advice and assistance.
includes the search and registration of the name of the
society, and approval of the constitution and by-laws. groundwater organizations
A society must consist of at least five people, and must
Groundwater Guardian Program
file for status on a yearly basis. You may want to ask a
Communities participating in the Groundwater Guardian
lawyer to review your draft constitution and by-laws to
Program have access to groundwater educational
ensure they are complete and appropriate.
materials and publications, an informal network of
For complete information on the process, contact the organizations interested in groundwater protection,
Corporate Registry at (250) 356-2893 or (604) 755-1044 assistance with planning and expertise:
or to find complete information, go to the P.O. Box 22558
www.fin.gov.bc.ca/registries/corppg/crsocieties.htm Lincoln NE USA 68542-2558
Website: www.groundwater.org/gg/gg.html
This package will give the planning team everything that
Phone: (800) 858-4844
is required to form a society and will also provide you
answers to most of your questions. B.C. Ground Water Association
The B.C. Ground Water Association is a non-profit
organization dedicated to the development, conservation
and protection of the B.C. groundwater resource.
The Association comprises mostly water well drillers,
1.2 Gather and Map Background pump contractors and suppliers, and professional
Information hydrogeologists:
After the planning team and a team leader have
1708-197A Street
been selected, the work begins! It is important to Langley, BC V2Z 1K2
gather some basic information before finalizing your Website: www.bcgwa.org
goals and objectives, so that you know what you are Phone: (604) 530-8934
dealing with. For example, the goals and objectives
Canadian Ground Water Association
for wells located over a highly vulnerable aquifer
will be different from those for wells located over a The Canadian Ground Water Association (CGWA) is "The
less vulnerable aquifer (see Step Two). You may have national voice of the ground water industry in Canada":
both types of aquifers in your well protection area. 1600 Bedford Hwy Suite 100-409
Bedford, NS B4A 1E6
Become Familiar with the Area Website: www.bcgwa.org
The first task is to obtain as much information as Phone: (902) 845-1885
possible about your community well(s) and about E-Mail: [email protected]
the local groundwater resource. The planning team
should become familiar with the hydrogeology,2 Complete the Well Assessment Form
the location of the well(s), the entire drinking water
The well assessment form (Appendix 1.3) records
supply system and areas where development is
basic information about the location of community
planned. This knowledge will give you insight into
wells, their construction and capacity, hydrogeology
the community’s existing and future water supply
and capture zone,3 as well as providing an assessment
needs and any water quality issues.
of water quality and likelihood of contamination. It is
Groundwater organizations can provide educational a good way to compile the available information.
materials and publications, informal networks and
It is unlikely that the team will have all the
1 To save the costs of the phone call, go through your local Enquiry BC (the number is
listed in the blue pages of the telephone directory) and they will connect you. information to fully complete the well assessment
2 The geology of the area in relation to the movement of groundwater and contaminants.
3 See Step Two, section 2.1.

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 STEP ONE

form for each well at this early stage. However, Review the Information
starting to complete the form will help you to identify
Once you have assembled all the available information,
what information your group already has, and what
your team can review it and determine what
is still missing. As other information is gathered
information is missing. You may identify the need
during the plan development, it can be added to the
for some immediate actions. For example, if there is
well assessment form.
a poor sanitary surface seal on a well, one of the first
It is also important to have information on the aquifer action items could be to replace the surface seal.
in which the well is constructed. If the aquifer consists
of sand and gravel, contaminants will reach the well Information to be Included on Maps
by travelling slowly through the pore spaces between Note that information will be added to the maps as the
the sand and gravel particles. If the aquifer consists well protection plan develops.
of fractured bedrock, contaminants reaching the
well will travel more quickly along the fractures. If Step One:
the aquifer is covered by a sufficiently thick layer of • Aquifer(s)
clay or till, the aquifer is somewhat protected from • Location of wells
contaminants on the surface, and they are less likely • Watershed boundaries
to reach the well. Without such as protective layer, the Step Two:
aquifer and well water are much more vulnerable to • Capture zone/well protection areas
contamination from human activities. • Fish bearing streams (in the event that main
It is important to know the type of aquifer in your flushing will discharge chlorinated water)
area so you can develop your plan accordingly. • Location of any confining layers
• Wetlands
Map the Information • Water table contours
Maps provide a picture of your community • Vulnerable aquifer areas / Recharge areas
groundwater supply and areas of risk, and help to • Flow directions
convey this information to others. Step Three:
Start with a base map of the community. This should • Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) lands
include information on the natural features of the • Contaminated sites
area and show the locations of all the community • Official community plan map information
wells and other water supply sources. Think about • High water-use industries and high risk sites
what scale(s) of map will best show the entire area • Industrial areas
of interest, and can also show a sufficient level of • Potential sources of contamination
detailed information. Do you need the map in digital • Sewer service areas and septic fields
format (for computer use) or will a paper map be • Zoning districts
adequate? Appendix 1.4 provides a summary of some Step Five:
of the maps most commonly used. If you are using • Drainage infrastructure, such as ditches and sewers
more than one map, remember that it is easier if they • Waterworks system including the location of
are all the same scale. chlorinators, pumps, water lines (size, age, material),
Once a base map has been prepared, overlay maps shut-off valves, pressure reducing valves, reservoirs,
can be drawn up to show a variety of information hydrants/standpipes, pressure zones
(see sidebar). Add what data you can now, and make • Access routes, roads or trails to critical control points
a note of additional information that needs to be (e.g. shut-off valves)
gathered at a later date. Step Six
• Location of water quality monitoring sites/
observation wells

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 STEP ONE

Organizing to Protect
A community in the West Kootenays, with a population of 3,000 people, relies on community well water systems for its drinking water.
In the 1980s, one of the community wells was shut down because of contamination with gasoline from a leaky underground
tank. In the early 1990s, the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks notified the local health unit and the four water districts
that nitrate had been detected in the groundwater. These events raised concerns in the community about the safety of their
water supply and in 1997, representatives from the four water districts, the city, the regional district and the local environmental
health officer met to establish an Aquifer Protection Committee.
The committee drafted a mission statement and developed goals and objectives. They began collecting information on the
aquifer and on land-use in the community and set up an Aquifer Resource Centre in the local public library. They then opened
a bank account, applied for non-profit society status and established working groups that addressed public education needs,
evaluated local bylaws that protect water quality, conducted a contaminant inventory survey, and looked into sources for possible
funding.
In its first year, the committee spoke to many groups in the community about the need to protect their groundwater, had a booth
at the Centennial Fair, and submitted articles to the local weekly paper about groundwater protection.

1.3 Set Goals and Objectives • To become familiar with the hydrogeology and
groundwater conditions of the community
Goals and objectives guide the development of
well supply and with the location of the
the plan, and ensure that you focus on the most
community’s wells, the entire drinking
important activities.
water supply system and areas of future
Goals express the “desired state” of the project. development;
Why do you need a well protection plan? Is it needed
• To gather all of the available information on the
to protect the drinking water in the community?
hydrogeologic nature of the aquifer(s); and
Is it needed to prevent further degradation of the
groundwater supply? What do you want to achieve • To develop and maintain a groundwater
in the long term? Use these and other similar monitoring program.
questions to set the goal(s).
You may want to develop “indicators” to measure
Objectives set out how you are going to achieve your success. A measurable indicator could be the number
goals. They should be specific – how are they going of stakeholders and members of the public contacted
to be achieved? Objectives should also be measurable and involved in the development of the well
– how can you tell if you have achieved what you set protection plan. Specific, achievable and measurable
out to do? Some objectives are discarded once they objectives will help you to evaluate the progress and
are achieved; others may become an ongoing activity success of the plan.
for the planning team.
Obtain Funding
A high-level, long-term goal, such as “developing and
implementing a management plan to control high- The community planning team will also need a
risk activities within the capture zone,” cannot be financial plan. The financial plan can be developed
achieved overnight and should be broken down into as part of the overall strategy for developing a well
a more manageable set of objectives, for example: protection plan. The community planning team
must estimate the financial needs for developing and

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 STEP ONE

implementing the plan, identify sources of funding change over time. The well protection plan should be
and revise its estimates as the plan progresses and reviewed on a regular basis and changes should be
new information becomes available. The good news made where necessary.
is that the money doesn’t have to be raised and
spent all at once. Funding sources can change – old
ones disappear and new sources become available. keys to successful planning
Someone on the community planning team can be • Set clear goals
assigned to track sources of funding. • Break down long-term objectives into smaller tasks
Don’t wait to initiate a well protection plan until that can be handled easily by individuals on your
you feel you have sufficient funding. Start the plan team – don’t try to achieve too much too soon
now and tailor it to the funds that you have. The • Set feasible short-term objectives while maintaining
success of your modest protection plan may attract sight of your goals
more funding from other sources. When larger • Establish plans and timetables
amounts of funding becomes available in the future, • Engage in exciting activities
your community will already have a plan and
• Have a strong will to succeed
working process in place to take advantage of the
funds. Remember, even a small amount of money • Recognize and celebrate successes
can get you started! Developing relationships and
trust within the community for the well protection
planning process will take time; cultivate that
1.5 Keep the Public Informed
relationship and trust now to get the community It is important to inform the community at large
supporting groundwater protection, even though of the progress in establishing a well protection
little funding may currently be available. plan. This helps educate people about the need to
protect groundwater while generating support for
the process itself. It also gives people an opportunity
1.4 Assign Tasks
to be involved and to provide input. You are more
Once you know what you want to do, you will need
likely to be successful if you have public support in
to decide who will be doing the work, and when.
monitoring and enforcing the well protection plan.
An action plan outlining and assigning tasks and
timeframes to individual team members will provide Mail-outs, advertisements, flyers, and community
direction and help keep everyone focussed on the meetings are low-cost methods for reaching a broad
work to be done. For simpler tasks, the planning team spectrum of the community. Some methods are more
can undertake all the work themselves. In larger and effective than others. Responses to questionnaires
more complex situations, you may need the help given to the community can provide feedback and
of professionals. information related to the well protection plan, and
can help the team determine what the groundwater
The planning team should meet regularly, once or
issues are and where the sources of contamination
twice every month, at least initially, to maintain
may be. Informing the public of the groundwater
momentum and keep everyone informed. These
activities can also be tied into other forums, such as
meetings are an opportunity to monitor the activities,
service club meetings, existing newsletters, school
and evaluate and assess progress of the work that has
assemblies and other community group meetings.
been completed.
Announcements in local newspapers, television and
Initial goals and objectives are often revised or radio are also an effective means of getting the word
expanded as the well protection plan develops, out on the progress of the well protection plan.
conditions change and the team becomes more You may choose to develop a communications
familiar with the process. Team members should or outreach plan, with the elements, budgets and
recognize and accept that the well protection plan will responsibilities outlined. You could appoint a

W e l l P r o t e c t i o n Too l K i t – S t e p O NE

 STEP ONE

communications contact who speaks objectively on

behalf of the team and issues. Consider a website; Ch ec kli s t for Step one
it could be useful for interactive consultation once
public input is sought. The following is a basic checklist for action items to be
completed during Step One of the well protection
planning process:

Action Item Comments Completed

Identify potential Membership

members of the should be based on
community geographic as well
planning team as local government
land areas and
include a full range of
community interests.

Form a community Ensure commitment

planning team from all members.

Select a team leader The leader will chair

meetings, facilitate
dialogue and keep the
process going.

Get maps & Establish a base map.

background Gather information
information on community wells
and aquifers. Identify
missing information.

Start filling out well Good starting point for

assessment form information needs for
the planning process.

Develop goals Objectives should be

and objectives measurable and have
an associated schedule.
Set a workplan.

Develop an Assign tasks to the

action plan community planning
team to meet the goals.

Involve and inform Announce the well

the public protection plan to
the public and
invite participation
and support.

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Appendix 1.1 Potential Members and Resources for the Community Planning Team

Representative Role/Jurisdiction
Purveyor of the community well Delivering potable water to customers in the community, emergency response

Local government (municipalities and regional districts):

Planners, Engineers Zoning by-laws through official community plans, emergency response
Elected officials such as Mayors and councillors, Fire department personnel Septic system permits, ensuring safe drinking water supply, permits for
Personnel from water & wastewater treatment/landfill facilities water system construction and operation
Staff from Regional Health Authority (Public Health Engineers,
Environmental Health Officers)

Provincial government staff from:

Ministry of Environment Flood forecasting, handling, storage and disposal of manure, pesticide use,
waste discharge, contaminated sites, technical advice on groundwater

Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Advising on Best Management Practices for

agricultural activities; water information database (GW with MOE)

Ministry of Community Services Funding for water system infrastructures, planning grants,
legislative advice

Ministry of Transportation Maintenance of roads and highways, approvals of subdivisions

Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Permits and manages mining activities, issues tenures for metal and coal
mining, and for oil and gas exploration and development

Ministry of Forests Forest and range management

Health Authority Staff Septic/sewerage systems, ensuring safe drinking water supply,
permits for water system construction and operation

Federal government staff from:

Environment Canada Transboundary water issues, technical information on groundwater

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Registration and approval of pesticide usage, research on
Best Management Practices for agricultural activities

Health Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Jurisdiction over native lands

Representatives from Industry and Associations:

Land developers, Local Chambers of Commerce Individuals in your community who belong to these associations could be
Industrial organizations (e.g. forest or gasoline companies) and their associations potential members of the community planning team
Well water drillers
Environmental consultants, Communication media
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C.
Consulting Engineers of B.C. (or their member groups)
B.C. Federation of Agriculture (or local producer groups)
B.C. Ground Water Association, B.C. Water and Waste Association
Aggregate Producers Association

Public:
Public interest groups Representation from the diverse interests of the community
Community service groups such as the Rotary Club
Environmental/conservation groups
Home owners or neighbourhood associations
Interested individuals

Educators:
Local school teachers, Scientific researchers Providers of expertise in education of the public and research on
University and college professors groundwater issues
Representatives from the school district

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 STEP ONE APPENDICES

Appendix 1.2 Listing of Regional Health Authorities and Ministry of

Environment Contacts

Health AUTHORITIES Phone Number4

Northern Health Authority (250) 565-2649
Interior Health (250) 862-4200
Vancouver Island Health Authority (250) 370-8699
Vancouver Coastal Health Toll Free 1-866-884-0888
Local (604) 875-4252
Fraser Health Toll Free 1-877-935-5669
Local (604) 587-4600

Ministry of Environment offices Phone Number

Groundwater Section (Victoria) (250) 387-3205
Thompson & Cariboo (Kamloops) (250) 371-6200
Lower Mainland (Surrey) (604) 582-5200
Omineca Peace and Skeena Regions (Prince George) (250) 565-6135
Vancouver Island (Nanaimo) (250) 751-3100
Kootenay and Okanagan (Nelson) (250) 354-6333
Kootenay and Okanagan (Penticton) (250) 490-8200

4 To save the costs of the phone call, go through your local Enquiry BC (the number is listed in the blue pages of the telephone directory) and they will connect you

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 STEP ONE APPENDICES

Appendix 1.3 Well Assessment Form

Ministry of Health Ministry of Environment WELL ASSESSMENT FORM

TO BE USED WITH THE WELL PROTECTION TOOLKIT.

IMPORTANT! Please complete one form for each ground water source used in your water system. Fill in available information.
If missing information, it may be advisable to contact the Ministry of Environment, Regional Office, or the local driller who drilled the well,
to assist. Photocopy this form as necessary.

PART I: WELL SYSTEM INFORMATION (Refer to Step 1)

WATER SYSTEM LEGAL NAME LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF WELL LOCATION

WATER SYSTEM LEGAL ADDRESS

LATITUDE / LONGITUDE HOW WERE LOCATION COORDINATES DETERMINED?

GPS________________ (specify accuracy) survey digitized from ______________________ map (specify scale)

UTM COORDINATES HOW MANY OTHER DOES THE WATER SYSTEM

WELLS MAKE UP THE ALSO USE A SURFACE
WATER SYSTEM? WATER SOURCE? (describe)
NUMBER OF CONNECTIONS POPULATION SERVED WATER USE other (specify)
Maximum Actual domestic irrigation commercial industrial

Well Identification Plate No. EMS NO. WELL TAG NO.

Contact your local Ministry of Environment office for the following information:
Well Identification Plate No. = MOE's metal tag affixed EMS NO. = MOE's site number for the water chemistry on BC WELL TAG NO. = MOE's computer number for the well.
to the well for on-site identification. their database.

Bulk supply yes no Back-up supply yes no Emergency supply yes no Metered yes no

WELL OPERATOR WELL OPERATOR'S PHONE NO.

( )
WELL OWNER / OPERATOR

WELL OPERATOR'S ADDRESS

INFORMATION

WELL OWNER WELL OWNER'S PHONE NO.

( )
WELL OWNER'S ADDRESS

PART II: WELL CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION (Refer to Step 1)

WELL-DRILLER'S NAME, COMPANY AND ADDRESS POSTAL CODE DATE WELL YYYY MM DD
ORIGINALLY
CONSTRUCTED

WELL-DRILLER'S TELEPHONE NO. YYYY MM DD

DATE OF LAST
( ) RECONSTRUCTION

TYPE OF WELL METHOD OF DRILLING WELL LOG AVAILABLE?

drilled dug other rotary cable driven jetted other yes (attach) no
(specify) tool (specify)
DEPTH OF WELL DIAMETER OF WELL SCREEN LENGTH DEPTH TO TOP OF SCREEN

m or ft. m or in. m or ft. m or ft.

WELL CAPACITY LOCATION OF WATER-BEARING FRACTION(S) (for bedrock wells): YIELD OF WATER-BEARING FRACTION(S)

L/s or Igpm L/s or Igpm

WELLHEAD ENCLOSURE SURFACE SANITARY SEAL
other
pump house manhole none grouted to m or ft. no surface seal pitless adapter
(specify)
AVERAGE PUMPING RATE HOW WAS PUMPING RATE DETERMINED? DEPTH OF INTAKE SETTING PUMP AGE

L/s or Igpm m or ft.

ANNUAL VOLUME OF WATER PUMPED HOW WAS VOLUME PUMPED DETERMINED?

L or Igal
PUMPING CAPACITY ANY CHANGES OR REPAIRS MADE TO THE PUMPING EQUIPMENT? (specify)

L/s or Igpm
TYPE OF STORAGE STORAGE CAPACITY COMMON INLET OR OUTLET?
other
tank(s) reservoir L or Igal yes no
(specify)
ATTACHED INFORMATION NOTE: If no well log is available, please attach any other records
well log drawings reports pump test data water quality data documenting well construction (i.e., "as built" drawings,
engineering reports).

HLTH 160, page 1 of 4 99/07/06

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 STEP ONE APPENDICES

Appendix 1.3 Well Assessment Form (continued)

PART III: HYDROGEOLOGIC INFORMATION (Refer to Steps 1 and 2)

DEPTH TO PUMPING WATER LEVEL DEPTH TO NON-PUMPING WATER LEVEL HOW WAS WATER LEVEL MEASURED?

m or ft. m or ft. well log wetted tape probe transducer

IF WELL IS FLOWING, WHAT IS THE ARTESIAN HOW IS PRESSURE HEAD AND FLOW MEASURED? (specify) IF SOURCE IS A FLOWING WELL OR SPRING, IS THERE A STORAGE
PRESSURE HEAD AND FLOW? IMPOUNDMENT OR RESERVOIR ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SOURCE?
m or ft. yes (specify) no

WELLHEAD ELEVATION (height above mean sea level) HOW WAS ELEVATION DETERMINED?
map (specify scale other
m or ft. survey altimeter topographic and contour interval) (specify)
TYPE OF CONFINING LAYER FROM WELL LOCATION OF CONFINING THICKNESS OF HOW LATERALLY EXTENSIVE IS CONFINING
LOG (e.g., clay, till) LAYER AT DEPTH CONFINING LAYER LAYER?
FROM WELL LOG m or ft. FROM WELL LOG m or ft.
IS YOUR WELL ASSOCIATED NAME OF AQUIFER AQUIFER CLASSIFICATION AQUIFER CLASSIFICATION
WITH A KNOWN AQUIFER? NUMBER (from MoELP) (from MoELP)
yes no

TYPE OF AQUIFER ARE THERE OTHER HIGH-CAPACITY yes ANNUAL RAINFALL

WELLS, 30 L/s OR 500 GAL./MIN.
unconsolidated, unconsolidated, bedrock (agricultural, municipal and/or How many?
unconfined confined industrial), LOCATED WITHIN A 300-m no m or in.
RADIUS OF THE COMMUNITY WELL?
AQUIFER TRANSMISSIVITY HOW WAS TRANSMISSIVITY DETERMINED?

m2 /d or Igpd/ft. from pumping test from specific capacity other (specify)

HYDRAULIC GRADIENT HOW WAS HYDRAULIC GRADIENT DETERMINED?

from well water levels from topography other (specify)

PLEASE IDENTIFY OR DESCRIBE ADDITIONAL HYDR OLOGIC OR GEOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS THAT YOU BELIEVE MAY AFFECT THE SHAPE OF THE CAPTURE ZONE FOR THIS
SOURCE. WHERE POSSIBLE, REFERENCE THEM TO LOCATIONS ON THE MAP PRODUCED IN PART IV.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

PART IV: ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY (Refer to Step 1)

1 HOW LONG HAS THE WATER SYSTEM BEEN IN EXISTENCE? 2 HAS YOUR WELL EVER BEEN DEEPENED, CLEANED, NEW WELL CONSTRUCTED?
yes — Why? no

3 IN THIS TIME, HAVE THERE BEEN IF YES, WHEN AND WHAT

ANY WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS? WAS THE CAUSE OF THESE ................................................................................................
PREVIOUS PROBLEMS
yes no don't (i.e., drought, pump failure, ................................................................................................
know plugging, increased usage,
interference, contamination)?
IF CONTAMINATION: • WHAT WATER QUALITY CHANGES WERE APPARENT (i.e., taste, colour, turbidity, other)? • WHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM?
• WHAT WERE THE EFFECTS OF THIS ACTION?

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

4 BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION
ANY BACTERIAL DETECTION(S) IN THE PAST 3 YEARS yes no HAVE THERE BEEN SAMPLING PROTOCOLS OR QA/QC yes no
BASED ON SOURCE-MONITORING RECORDS? ESTABLISHED?
HAS SOURCE (IN PAST 3 YEARS) HAD A BACTERIOLOGICAL IF YES, WHAT ARE THEY?
CONTAMINATION PROBLEM FOUND IN DISTRIBUTION SAMPLES yes no
THAT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SOURCE? ...............................................................................
WAS THE BACTERIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION DUE TO yes no
THE SOURCE? ...............................................................................
WAS THE BACTERIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION DUE TO yes no
CROSS-CONNECTIONS? ...............................................................................

IS THE WELL AVAILABLE FOR DIRECT SAMPLING? yes no

HLTH 160, page 2 of 4 99/03/18

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 STEP ONE APPENDICES

Appendix 1.3 Well Assessment Form (continued)

SOURCE-SPECIFIC WATER QUALITY RECORDS (Refer to Step 1)

Please indicate the occurrence of any test results in the last 10 years that meet the following conditions:

PARAMETER RECURRING PROBLEMS TEST RESULTS EXCEEDENCES OF CDWQG 1

Bacteriological
Total/Faecal Coliforms
Background Heterotrophic
plate counts
Iron and Sulphate Reducers

Disinfection by-products
Bromodichloromethane
Dibromochloromethane
Chloroform

Physical Parameters
pH, colour, alkalinity, specific
conductance, hardness, total
dissolved solids, total organic
carbon, turbidity

Inorganic Parameters
Nitrates, fluoride, sulfate,
sulphide, ammonia, chloride,
nitrite, nitrogen (organic)

Metals*
Calcium, iron, magnesium,
manganese, sodium

1 Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines, 6th edition

* A metal scan is usually performed every 3 years at least, and includes aluminum, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead,
molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, silver and zinc.

Please sketch in the box below the location sampling point with respect to the well.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

HLTH 160, page 3 of 4 99/03/18

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 STEP ONE APPENDICES

Appendix 1.3 Well Assessment Form (continued)

PART V: WATER TREATMENT INFORMATION (Refer to Step 1)

IS THIS SOURCE TREATED? IF YES, TYPE OF TREATMENT
other
yes no disinfection filtration carbon filter air stripper water softener (specify)
PURPOSE OF TREATMENT

IF SOURCE IS CHLORINATED, Total Chlorine Free Chlorine WHAT IS THE RESIDUAL LEVEL OF TREATMENT?
IS A CHLORINE RESIDUAL
ppm ppm
MAINTAINED?
IS THE WATER TREATMENT BEFORE OR AFTER
IS THERE ANY WATER STORAGE IN THE SYSTEM? yes no before after
THE STORAGE UNIT?
WHAT IS THE TOTAL AND Total Chlorine Free Chlorine IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL Total Chlorine Free Chlorine
FREE CHLORINE IN THE CHLORINE ADDED AFTER
ppm ppm ppm ppm
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM? THE SOURCE (rechlorination)?
WHAT TYPE OF CHEMICALS ARE USED IN THIS PROCESS? (specify) WHERE ARE CHEMICALS STORED?

IF STORED IN PUMP HOUSE, HOW ARE CHEMICALS ISOLATED FROM THE WELL?
IS THERE PROPER STORAGE yes
FOR THESE CHEMICALS? no

PART VI: MAPPING THE CAPTURE ZONE TO YOUR COMMUNITY WELL (Refer to Step 2)
A map (1:5000 to 1:20,000 are typical scales) will be needed to complete this section.
Multiple wells in the same area can be plotted on one map.
CIRCULAR CAPTURE ZONE (refer to Appendix 2.1) PARABOLIC CAPTURE ZONE (refer to Appendix 2.2)*
*attach calculation sheets RADIUS (m) Downgradient Width of
distance m capture zone m
Arbitrary Fixed Radius
Is there a river, lake, pond, stream or other obvious yes (identify on map)
Fixed Radius

(1-year travel time)* surface water body within the 6-month time of travel
Calculated

boundary? no
(5-year travel time)*
Is there a stormwater and/or wastewater facility, yes (identify on map)
treatment lagoon or holding pond located within the
(10-year travel time)* 6-month time of travel boundary? no

PART VII: SOURCE SURVEY (Refer to Step 3)

4 REGIONAL SOURCES OF RISK TO GROUND WATER
Please indicate if any of the following potential sources of contamination within the capture zone.

ACTIVITY T.O.T. NOT 1-YEAR 5-YEAR 10-YEAR COMMENTS

SPECIFIED
Chemical Storage (specify)
Injection wells
Abandoned wells
Landfills, dumps, disposal areas
Commercial/industrial sites
Known hazardous materials clean-up site
Household hazardous waste
Population density > 2 houses per hectare
On-site sewage treatment
Wastewater treatment facility
Sites used for land application of waste
Golf course
Dairy or beef farms
Poultry barns
Hobby farms
Fields: vegetables, hay, fruit (specify)
Mining operations
Gravel pits

** Mark and identify on map any of the potential sources listed above which are located within the capture zone boundary.
SEPTIC FIELD SETBACK GRADIENT TO SEPTIC FIELD DENSITY OF ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
upgrade downgrade same grade COMMUNITY SYSTEM SYSTEM PER LOT

m or ft. % %

HLTH 160, page 4 of 4 99/03/18

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 STEP ONE APPENDICES

Appendix 1.4 Selection of Base Maps

Local maps (generally 1:5,000 and larger) are usually available from regional or municipal governments. In most
incorporated areas, the local source for mapping would be the municipality. Regional district offices also have
cadastral or land-use zoning maps. “Cadastral” maps are parcel-based maps with legal information such as
district lot and plan lot numbers. Road right-of-ways are usually included but topography and information on
watercourses are usually not.
The format and scale vary from one community to another. In small communities, map scales typically vary from
1:1,000 to 1:2,500. Cities are mapped at scales from 1:2,500 to 1:5,000. Most maps will be available in paper copy, or
in digital (computerized) format compatible with Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Some larger municipalities
may also have some land-use maps available (especially those that use GIS).
Cadastral maps of 1:1,000 to 1:20,000 are usually good base maps.
If there is no mapping available locally, the B.C. Assessment Authority will have maps. B.C. Assessment
Authority maps for communities throughout the province can be obtained through Island Blue Print in Victoria
at: (250) 385-9786.
TRIM (Terrain Resource Information Management) maps are at a scale of 1:20,000. They show contours,
watercourses and other water bodies, and are available for all areas of the province. TRIM maps are available
through the Integrated Land and Resource Registry at www.ilrr.ca/

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 CASE STUDY P U M P H A N D L E B. C.

Step one:
Establishing A Community Planning Team

Pumphandle, British Columbia is a small town information that could help him protect his well from
with 650 residents, located in a valley to the east of increasing levels of nitrate in the water. She told him
Vancouver. Most of the residents work in logging, that the aquifer near Aiken’s Well was vulnerable to
agriculture, tourism and recreation. contamination from land-use activities because it
is not protected by any surface clay or till layers.
Drinking water comes from three community wells
She also sent him a copy of the Well Protection Toolkit,
(Figure CS 1.1):
and suggested that he talk to the other water purveyors
• Aiken’s Well, shown as Well A, is a shallow well in the area to see if they would be interested in
dug into a spring. At the turn of the century, the developing a well protection plan for the area.
property around the well belonged to Rolland
Andrew Aiken met with the water purveyors from
Aiken. As the community of Pumphandle
the other two community wells. They had also
grew, the need for a community water supply
noticed elevated nitrates in their water supply, and
increased. Rolland Aiken formed the Aiken
agreed that a well protection plan was needed to
Waterworks and the family continues to own and
protect the community’s groundwater supply from
operate the waterworks to this day. Water from
further contamination. The water purveyors decided
the well is supplied to the main subdivision in
to use the Well Protection Toolkit as a guide to help
Pumphandle with 165 homes (500 residents), and
them in developing their plan.
a number of commercial users including a gas
station and dry cleaner.
Form a Community Planning Team
• The Blackwater Well, shown as Well B, supplies
As a first step, the three purveyors prepared a list of
water to another 35 homes (100 residents), and
individuals and agencies who might be interested
the campground, hotel, schools and golf course.
in being part of a community planning team and
• Charlie’s Well, shown as Well C, provides water in helping to develop a well protection plan for the
to a small new subdivision of 15 homes with entire community.
approximately 50 residents.
They called local farmers and the owners of the
Further up the valley, in areas to the south and hotel, trailer campground, golf course, gas station
west of Pumphandle, residents are served by and dry cleaner. The Regional District was asked to
individual wells and private intakes from the provide someone from the Engineering and Planning
nearby mountain creeks. Department. The Pumphandle Valley Conservation
Aiken Waterworks had samples taken from Aiken’s Society was invited, as they could play an important
Well for a complete chemical analysis. In the last role in raising public awareness of the issue.
few sampling rounds, results from the certified Andrew Aiken called Anne Jones and invited her to
environmental laboratory showed an elevated join the planning team. Andrew also asked Anne if
nitrate concentration in the groundwater (nitrate- she would represent provincial government interests
nitrogen levels of 7 mg/L). The maximum allowable on the team. He thought that it would be easier
concentration (MAC) for nitrate-nitrogen is 10 mg/L for her to be the main contact with staff from other
as set out in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking government agencies (such as Agriculture and Lands
Water Quality. and Environment).
Andrew Aiken contacted Anne Jones, the local In total, eight people agreed to participate on the
Drinking Water Officer, to see if she had any Pumphandle community planning team:

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 Figure CS 1.1 MAP OF THE PUMP HAN DLE AQUIFER

NW

N
B
Pumphandle,
BC C

Loca
tion
of cro
ss-se
ction
Pumphandle Aquifer

LEGEND S

A
Pumphandle community well

Other domestic & irrigation wells

dry cleaner

gas station
Scale = 1:20 000
Metres hotel

0 200 400 600

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 STEP ONE P U M P H A N D L E B. C.

• Andrew Aiken, purveyor for Aiken’s Well any results of a chemical analysis for pesticides for
• Jenny Lowden, purveyor for Blackwater Well any of the three wells. They noted the need for a
comprehensive agricultural chemical analysis for the
• Eric Kowski, purveyor for Charlie’s Well
wells. This information would provide baseline data,
• Ian Rutherford, P. Eng., Engineer for Valley which could be compared with future results.
Regional District
• Simon Lee, farmer Set Goals and Objectives
• Jocelyne Dufour, campground owner/operator In developing their terms of reference, the Pumphandle
• Devon Alexander, Pumphandle Valley team set themselves two long-term goals:
Conservation Society 1. To encourage public awareness of the need to
• Anne Jones, Drinking Water Officer, Pumphandle protect groundwater; and
Health Authority 2. To develop and implement a well protection
plan that will minimize the nitrate levels in the
Andrew Aiken was selected as the team leader. Each
Pumphandle wells and aquifer.
team member was given a copy of the Well Protection
Toolkit. The team agreed to meet every two weeks for Each long-term goal was broken down into several
the first three months of the process so they could short-term objectives:
get a good start on the project. At the first “official” 1. Encourage public awareness and education
meeting, the Pumphandle community planning team
• produce an information sheet on the well water
would discuss what information was available about
supplies in Pumphandle;
the existing wells and the community, and what else
• hold public information meetings;
would be needed.
• conduct a groundwater issues survey;
Gather and Map Information • place signs in strategic locations informing
The Pumphandle community planning team started the public that they are in a designated well
by collecting and mapping information about the protection area;
groundwater supply. They used a 1:20,000 TRIM5 • include groundwater information in the public
map as a base map, which was the only digital school education programs; and
mapping available for the area (Figure CS 1.1).
• raise money to assist with publication of
More detailed 1:2,000 cadastral maps would be
educational materials.
used during field studies. Anne Jones (the Drinking
Water Officer), Ian Rutherford (District Engineer) 2. Develop a well protection plan
and the three purveyors agreed to gather the initial • complete the well assessment form for each
information. They mapped: community well (Step One);
• the location of the wells (community and private); • delineate the well protection areas for all three
• land use activities (commercial, residential, community wells (Step Two);
agricultural, recreation, undeveloped); and • conduct a contaminants inventory for all of
• the boundary of the aquifer (information Pumphandle (Step Three);
obtained from the Ministry of Environment). • select and implement groundwater protection
This information was recorded on the well assessment measures (Step Four);
form. There was no available information on the • develop a contingency/emergency response
amount of water used for private irrigation, plan (Step Five); and
so this would be collected during Step Three. • design and implement a monitoring program
Anne Jones and Ian Rutherford were unable to find (Step Six).

5 Terrain Resource Information Management

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 STEP ONE P U M P H A N D L E B. C.

Assign Tasks
The Pumphandle team divided the jobs of meeting
these objectives (see Table CS 1.1). They decided that
future meetings would be held on a monthly basis
and that progress reports on each of the goals would
be presented at these meetings.

Table CS 1.1: pumphandle team responsibilities

tasks purveyors district farmer CAMPGROUND CONSERVATION Drinking Water
engineer OWNER SOCIETY OFFICER

1. Complete the well • • •

assessment form

2. Conduct a groundwater •
issues survey

3. Delineate the capture • •

zones for all three wells

4. Conduct a • • •
contaminants survey

5. Select and implement • • • • • •

groundwater protection
measures

6. Produce an information • • •
sheet on the well water
supplies and aquifer
in Pumphandle

7. Fund raising to assist • • •

with publication of
educational materials

8. Hold public information • • •

meetings

9. Include groundwater in • •
the public education
programs

10. Place signs in strategic • • •

locations

11. Develop a spill • • • •

contingency/emergency
response plan

12. Design and implement • • • •

a water quality
monitoring program

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