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Wellhead Protection

Wellhead protection activities continue to increase in the Commonwealth. While there has not been a stampede to graduate from assessing a public water supply’s contamination susceptibility to implementing measurable protection activities, there continues to be interest at the local level in developing strategies to protect ground water resources. These local efforts are often buoyed by technical support from Virginia Department of Health (VDH) field office staff, the VDH contract with Olver Inc. to assist small systems in priority areas, or grants issued directly to municipalities through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in conjunction with VDH.

The 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) expanded protection concepts from ground water based public water supply systems to all sources of water serving public water supply systems, including surface water. The 1996 amendments also required assessments to evaluate every public water supply system’s vulnerability or susceptibility to contamination. These mandatory assessments were supported with dedicated funding from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan (DWSRF) set asides; assessments were completed by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Information gained through the assessments was shared with system owners and consumers. Federal and State officials were hopeful these assessments and susceptibility determinations would be the foundation for protection programs.

Opportunities to fund wellhead protection activities:
Following Federal approval of the State’s Voluntary Wellhead Protection Plan, DEQ and VDH worked together to issue a “Request for Proposals” from local governments to implement wellhead protection. A combination of SDWA set aside funds and Clean Water Act funds were used to fund the projects. Three awards were made in 2005 totaling $31,250. A second “Request for Proposals” from local governments to implement wellhead protection was issued July 2006. Four awards were made totaling $147,390. A third “Request for Proposals” was issued in July 2007. Six proposals were received with three awards made totaling $182,858. The fourth “Request for Proposals” in July 2008 resulted in three awards totaling $145,715. Interest in the grants continues to increase. As long as VDH and DEQ are able to earmark a portion of their federal dollars toward implementation these “Request for Proposals” will continue. Our goal is to issue the request annually in June or July to enable contracts to be in place by October 1.
Wellhead Protection

Funding Opportunities for Wellhead Protection   Dollar Signs

2008 Awards
The Town of Burkeville, the Town of Lovettsville, and the Augusta County Service Authority successfully competed to receive funding under an RFP issued specifically for wellhead protection projects. The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality cooperated on the issuance of the RFP and in developing the funding sources for future projects. The Town of Burkeville received $1,517 to implement protection measures identified in their wellhead protection plan (completed by VDH contractor Olver Inc.) which includes erecting signs, creating a brochure, and providing spill containment equipment for emergency responders; the Town of Lovettsville received $64,987 to draft and present revisions to their comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances for further implementation of their protection plan; Augusta County Service Authority received $78,750 to identify the recharge area for the Hurdis-Hershey-Ridgeview wells which will complete delineations for the South River system. 


For more information on these projects or funding opportunities in 2009 contact Mary Ann Massie at 804.698.4042 or email

Past Awards

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