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PROGRAMS: Groundwater Protection
The Department of
Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Protection has
been entrusted with the management and protection of ground water
resources in the USVI. As the lead agency for implementation and
administration of ground water protection activities in the USVI, major
tasks and responsibilities of the DPNR/DEP include but are not limited to:
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Development and enforcement of regulations associated
with ground water and wellhead protection,
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Management of databases containing information on
hydro-geology of the USVI, wells, well-related permits, and other
information management systems associated with ground water protection,
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Mapping of ground water supply and well locations, and
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The delineation of wellhead protection areas, and other
technical activities.
Ground water
is an extremely valuable but limited fresh water resource in the USVI.
There are no permanent freshwater streams or large freshwater bodies such
as rivers, lakes or ponds in the USVI. Streams flow mainly during periods
of intense rainfall. The protection of ground water and ensuring renewable
ground water resources is critical to the economy and ecology of the USVI,
and the health and livelihood of residents and visitors alike.
There are
numerous programs within the DPNR/DEP, often in coordination with other
DPNR divisions, local and federal agencies, which help to identify
groundwater resources, provide regulatory compliance and enforcement,
resource management, and develop regulations and practices to protect and
preserve groundwater resources in the USVI. These programs include but are
not limited to the following:
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Well Permitting - Since groundwater is
a limited resource that can be “over-mined”, the DPNR/DEP regulates the
withdrawal of groundwater through its
well permitting programs. When an
individual or business wants to drill a well, a DPNR/DEP representative
will inspect the site to determine if it is a safe distance from
potential contamination sources (leachfields, septic tanks) or other
wells. The DPNR/DEP will also evaluate the aquifer capacity and
safe pumping rates for the well.
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All well
drillers must be licensed by the DPNR/DEP to insure that proper
equipment and techniques are used when drilling a well.
Once the
well is drilled, an appropriation permit will be issued describing the
total amount of water permitted to be withdrawn on a daily basis. For
individual homes this is typically 500 gallons per day. Business and
industry are allotted pumping rates based on their needs and the
capacity of the aquifer.
In the past,
over-pumping has caused withdrawals of groundwater to exceed the
aquifers capacity forcing temporary shutdown of all wells in a basin.
Cooperation of all well owners is required for all to have enough water.
It is important to remember that we share the water and that the
regulations developed by DPNR guarantee a fair share of the resource to
everyone.
As Rain
water flows picks up and carriesy natural and human-made pollutants,
depositing them into the land, surface and ground water, as it slowing
travels then moves toward the sea, washing off into coastal ponds, bays
and estuaries. Wells can intercept this water, threatening the water
quality.
The DPNR/DEP has completed analyses of major well fields to
develop Well Head Protection Areas in order to safeguard our most
valuable drinking water supplies. These maps delineate the land around
major wells and wellfields that must be protected to insure a safe
drinking water supply.
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Well Inventory - DPNR maintains
extensive records on aquifer conditions, the location, condition and
pumping histories of wells in the VI. This information is essential to
manage the resource and insure that there is sufficient groundwater
available to all.
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Earth Change Permit Program - The
Division of Environmental Protection has recently assumed administration
of the Earth Change Permit Program.
As anyone
who has built a home, graded a new road or made a “change” to the land
knows, an Earth Change Permit is required prior to commencement of the
work. This program is one of the most important in the US Virgin
Islands.
The
permitting program insures that approved development plans are sound and
buildings, roads, septic systems, drainage ways and such function safely
and effectively. The program also insures that safeguards are in place
during construction and over the life of the development that minimize
impacts to groundwater and other natural resources such as woodlands,
streams, wetlands, beaches, coral reefs and wildlife.
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Mapping Potential Surface and Ground Water NPS
Pollution – The DPNR/DEP conducts mapping of potential
surface and ground water non-point pollution threats in the USVI using
aerial photographs, field observation, verification and interviews.
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Integrated Watershed Management Plan -
One of the most exciting and comprehensive programs being developed by
DPNR/DEP, in cooperation with the US EPA, is the Integrated Watershed
Management Plan. The intent of this plan is to evaluate all natural
systems within a watershed, identify and locate pollutant sources,
estimate the contaminant contribution of the pollutant source and
measure the assimilative capacity of the watershed.
Total
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL's) will be determined for site specific and
non-point discharges and be regulated under the TPDES Program or
controlled under NPS (as applicable). The inventory of resources, the
authority and roles of other local and federal programs such as TPDES,
NPS, Superfund, RCRA and others will be combined in the Integrated
Watershed Plan.
The
integration of these regulatory programs and resource databases will
provide invaluable assessment and protection capabilities. Programs can
be modified to compliment each other, inconsistencies between programs
can be eliminated and overall program capabilities will be
strengthened. Increased efficiency will undoubtedly reduce cost and
improve the effectiveness of these programs.
In addition to
the above programs, numerous inter-related programs, local and national,
work together to regulate and manage threats to groundwater and protect
public health in the US Virgin Islands; i.e., Superfund, RCRA, Public
Water Supply, TPDES, UST, Water Pollution Control and others.
Other agencies
with major roles for ground water management and protection include the
following:
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VI Department of
Agriculture
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VI Department of
Health/Division of Environmental Health (DEH)
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VI Department of
Planning & Natural Resources, Division of Permits
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VI Department of
Public Works
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VI Water and Power
Authority – Largest public water supplier in the USVI
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US Geological Survey
(USGS) Water Resources Division
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USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service
For more
detailed information on ground water and other water quality issues see
the DPNR/DEP’s
2002 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report
for the United States Virgin Islands (revised December 23, 2002).
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