Tribal Wellhead Protection Demonstration Projects

摘要

Preventing contamination is the key to keeping ground water supplies safe. Once adrinking water supply becomes contaminated, a tribe is faced with the difficult and costly task of installing treatment facilities or locating an alternative source. Wellhead Protection provides the tribes with an opportunity to protect their drinking water supplies through local community planning. The case studies described herein illustrate Tribal Wellhead Protection activities and highlight several concerns Tribes may have in implementing Wellhead Protection. These concerns include: Ground water recharge or wellhead protection areas that are located outside the boundaries of Tribal reservations; Intimate relationship between ground and surface water within the reservation; Difficulturies in implementing or enforcing a program in the absence of a Tribal judicial body. The case study details should be useful in assisting Tribes to develop a Wellhead Protection Program under the Safe Drinking Water Act that is tailored to their unique set of circumstances. Case studies of successful Tribal Wellhead Programs may include elements that are adaptable to other Tribal Programs.