Potable Water Supply Planning

We've just ended of one of the wettest summers on record, so it seems odd to worry about available water supplies.  Regardless of the rainfall, though, municipalities should always maintain vigilance when it comes to their water supply, a basic necessity of life.
 
When we think about water resources, we think about three things:

• Protection of Quality
• Protection of Sufficiency
• Shared Use with Natural Demands

Protection of Quality

In some ways, protection of water quality is the easiest task.  Your first step is always to properly design wells and treatment systems.  But for widely distributed domestic wells and community wells, aquifer protection is also needed.  Many regulations already enforce aquifer care standards, however known protection gaps exist which communities can fill with local measures. 
 
Chazen has collaborated to prepare a model aquifer protection ordinance to fill protection gaps.  It is free for your use.  In addition to addressing a range of protective standards, it includes guidance for cluster subdivision layout, infiltration targets to preserve aquifer recharge, and outlines pumping test requirements.  You can download simple and expanded versions of this model ordinance from Chazen's website.

Parcel sizes are also important when protecting groundwater quality.  If homes use wells and septic systems, average lot sizes must be large enough to support the wells and dilute the septic system discharges.  Results from a recharge and parcel size study are also available on Chazen's site and can be adapted to any community's rainfall and soil data.  Maintaining appropriately sized residential parcel sizes is critical to ensuring successful use of domestic wells with septic systems.

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Protection of Sufficiency 

Our region tends to receive between 36 and 44 inches of precipitation yearly.  This gives us far more water to work with than drought-stricken States.  But we received long droughts as recently as during the summers of 2001 and 2002. Those years, many domestic and public water sources struggled and many new wells were drilled.
 
Climate change predictions suggest our total rainfall will not change much in coming decades, but do suggest that our future rain will come in heavier rainfalls with longer dry periods between storms.  If this is correct, aquifer recharge rates will decline and there will be overall fewer rain events and more runoff during the big storms.  

Protecting groundwater supplies therefore needs planning.  We suggest using multiple paths:

• The model ordinance described above includes pumping test requirements to ensure that new water sources are tested carefully.  It also includes measures to preserve infiltration capacity so aquifer capacity is not lost.
• Planning Boards should seek professional groundwater advice when reviewing projects needing large water volumes. 
• Residential lot sizes using wells should be large enough to support their wells.  This can be accomplished through good planning, SEQRA or zoning.  As indicated above, a parcel size study is available on our website.
• On-site recharge of storm water should generally be encouraged. An inventory of low-impact design techniques is available for your use.

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Sharing Use with Natural Demands

How much water can humans use before trout streams run dry or wetland refuges become too dry for endangered species?  Natural systems need water.  Interbasin transfers, large central sewage systems, and high-capacity well systems can each reduce water available to streams and wetlands. 
 
Three general rules should be considered to help minimize water resource depletion in watersheds:

Rule 1:  Distribute withdrawals widely to prevent overtapping any one area.

Rule 2:  Use conservation measures to reduce potable water use and consider using treated wastewater or captured rainwater if irrigation is required.

Rule 3:  With care, treated wastewater should be returned close to where it was withdrawn and storm water should be recharged on site to help maintain local water balance.  

Chazen's ecological and wetland scientists can help determine whether proposed water uses will harm a local ecological setting.  Chazen's storm water and wastewater engineers can design facilities to maximize safe opportunities to keep water in a local area.

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Ready to Help

So here's how The Chazen Companies can help you ensure that water is used well in your community. 

• Consider adopting the water resource ordinance.  The ordinances described above are free for use, and we can help with any mapping needs or consultations. 
• Enhance aquifer recharge in your town.  Whether on new development projects or on municipal lands, storm water should be infiltrated and on-site treated wastewater is a good option to consider.  Demonstration sites on municipal properties are a good idea.  
• Make sure your Planning Board seeks groundwater advice when reviewing projects requiring large water volumes.  Escrow fees can pay for this.
• You may need ecological analysis to assess whether wetlands and streams are being dewatered.  Where harm is anticipated or documented, enhanced recharge or on-site treated wastewater return programs are appropriate.
• Commission a Water Resource Assessment for your municipality.