Nebraska’s

Wellhead
Protection
Program
Wellhead Protection 101
The goal of Nebraska’s Wellhead Protection Program is to protect the
Five land and groundwater surrounding public drinking water supply wells from
Steps contamination. Since approximately 85% of Nebraskans receive their drinking
water from groundwater, preventing groundwater contamination is vital.

1 Delineation

2 Contaminant Source Inventory

3 WARNING
NO
DUMPING Contaminant Source Management

4
ALL OFENDERS WILL BE PROSECUTED
TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW

Emergency, Contingency, & Long Term Planning

5 Public Education

Developing a Local Wellhead Protection Plan

The Wellhead Protection planning process includes identifying the land surrounding
the public water supply wells to be protected, identifying potential sources of
groundwater contamination within this area, and managing the potential contaminant
sources. Emergency, contingency, and long term plans are also developed for the
community water supply, all the while educating and involving the public.
1 Delineating the Wellhead Protection Area
A Wellhead Protection area is calculated from information such as the geologic material the well is drilled into
and the annual pumpage of the well. Computer-generated flow lines depict the approximate path groundwater,
or a contaminant in groundwater, will take to reach a well. Flow lines are then associated with estimated times-
of-travel and a boundary is drawn on property lines enclosing all 20-year-flow lines. The Nebraska Department
of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) provides these maps at no charge.

We Have a Map...
So Our Drinking
Water is Protected
NO

A Wellhead Protection map is just a piece of scrap paper

unless you enact local ordinances, county zoning, or
voluntary activities within your Wellhead Protection Area.

2 Potential Contaminant Source Inventory

The purpose of a contaminant source inventory is to identify potential contaminants that may pollute drinking
water. Inventories should be compiled from existing databases and on-the-ground observations. Contact the
NDEQ Wellhead Protection Program for shapefiles/maps and spreadsheets from existing databases.

Main Requirements: Common Potential

• Inventory completed/updated Contaminants:
within the past 3 years Agricultural
• Contaminants marked on a • Fuel Storage
• Grain Storage
map (point sources)
• Water Well
• Spreadsheet associated with • Chemigation
point source contaminants • Livestock
Commercial / Light Industry
• Land use map (non-point • Auto Repair
sources) • Dry Cleaners
• Fuel Stations
Databases Available: • Machine Shop
• Rail Yard
• NDEQ - regulated facilities Industry
• NDNR - water wells • Manufacturing
• Gas/Oil Well
• State Fire Marshal’s Office - • Junk Yard
flammable & haz waste storage • Landfill
• NRDs - abandoned wells • Sewage Treatment
• NE Oil & Gas Conservation Other
• Cemetery
Commission - oil & gas wells • Golf Course
• NE Dept of Ag - Ag chemical • HWY Maintenance Yard
storage/manufacturer • Transportation Corridors
3 WARNING
NO
DUMPING
ALL OFENDERS WILL BE PROSECUTED
TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW

Contaminant Source Management

Management of a groundwater supply by local communities can involve a
number of possible steps. These may include the enactment of sanitary
and water ordinances, public nuisance laws, and zoning restrictions on
specific land uses; the purchase of land or conservation easements;
cooperative efforts with local NRDs; or voluntary actions. Best Management
Practices should be encouraged throughout the Wellhead Protection area.
Some water systems subsidize or even completely fund these practices.

Main Requirements: Example Best Management

Practices in Ag Settings:
• Develop a list of existing controls
• Develop or suggest new controls • Alternative Cropping Methods
• Include copies or descriptions of inter agency agreements (if any) • Conservation Reserve Program
• No-Till Culivation
• Nutrient Management Program
Example Best Management • Strip Cropping
Practices in Urban Settings: • Terracing
• Alternative Lawn Options • Water Management Program
• Improving Soil Structure
• Installing Water Meters
• Low Flow Nozzles
• Mulching Lawn Clippings
• Permeable Pavement
• Rain Barrels / Rain Gardens
• Rain Sensors for Lawn Irrigation

4 Emergency, Contingency, and Long-Term Planning

A plan is developed to provide a replacement source of drinking water in the event of:
• Shut down of well due to contamination
• A natural disaster that impacts wells: flood, tornado, drought, ice storm
• Major mechanical or physical breakdown of pump, water tower, or distribution system
• Vandalism to well, water tower/storage, or supply source

Main Requirements:
• Include or reference a copy of your emergency plan
• Identify a safe short-term, temporary source of drinking water
• Identify options for obtaining a new long-term source of water
• Possible locations of a new well
• Other Public Water Systems to purchase water from
5 Public Education & Participation
Through state agencies, local groups, and environmental
Approved WHP Plans
The Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality (NDEQ)
organizations, the public needs to be informed throughout is the lead agency for Wellhead
the process and educated about what can be done to Protection (WHP) plan approval
protect groundwater and their drinking water. under the Nebraska Wellhead
Protection Area Act (§46-1501
through 46-1509). Numerous
guidance documents are available
Main Requirements: from NDEQ to assist in the
• Make the Wellhead Protection Plan available for development of a local WHP plan.
public review at least 30 days prior to the meeting
where public comment on the Plan will be recorded
• Take public comments at a regularly scheduled
meeting of the controlling entity (village board, city
council, RWD board, etc.)
• Public Notice both of the above
• Provide proof of public meetings and Public Notices

Funding Options
Numerous funding options are available for everything from
paying someone to develop a plan to implementing on-the-ground
management practices. Sources of these funds may include:

• 319 grant - Various projects as they relate to the effects of

pollution on surface and groundwater - NDEQ
• Source Water grant - Projects that provide long-term benefits to
drinking water quality, quantity, education, and/or security - NDEQ
• Nebraska Environmental Trust grant - Actions to preserve,
restore, research, design, manage, or conserve water
• Natural Resources Districts - Depends upon the district

Contacts for Assistance Nebraska Rural Water Association

402-443-5216
www.nerwa.org
Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality (NDEQ)
Wellhead Protection Program (WHP) The Groundwater Foundation
1200 ‘N’ Street, Suite 400 1-800-858-4844
PO Box 98922 www.groundwater.org
Lincoln, NE 68509-8922
More information is available in other
402-471-0096 NDEQ WHP publications. Find these Natural Resources Districts (NRD)
1-877-253-2603 (toll free) newsletters and other WHP information at: 402-471-7670
ndeq.moreinfo@nebraska.gov -- www.deq.state.ne.us -- www.nrdnet.org
www.deq.state.ne.us Use the search button and type in WHP

Fall 2010