Wellhead Protection Program
Table of Contents
Program Description
The Ground Water Section administers the Wellhead Protection Program, which is a strategy to protect ground water drinking supplies from pollution.
The Safe Drinking Water Act and the Indiana Wellhead Protection Rule (327 IAC 8.4-1) mandates a wellhead program for all Community Public Water Systems.
The Wellhead Protection Programs consists of two phases. Phase I involves the delineation of a Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA), identifying potential sources of contamination, and creating management and contingency plans for the WHPA. Phase II involves the implementation of the plan created in Phase I, and communities are required to report to IDEM how they have protected ground water resources.
For complete guidance on creating a wellhead protection plan, please download the Wellhead Protection Guidance Document [PDF].
Phase I
All community water systems were required to develop a plan, commonly referred to as a Phase I plan, to protect the areas around their wellheads. All Phase I plans were required to contain, at a minimum the following:
- Establishment of a Local Planning Team
- Delineation of the Wellhead Protection Area
- Identification and Inventory of Potential Contaminant Sources
- Development of a Management Plan for Potential Contaminant Sources
- Development of a Contingency Plan
A phased in approach was developed to allow adequate time for implementing management measures.
The following links provide other useful information regarding the Phase I implementation:
- Phase I Application Form [PDF]
- New Wells
- IDEM's Drinking Water Branch requires well site approval before a construction permit is granted for a new well. Wellhead protection is incorporated into the well site approval process.
- Please view Chapter VII of the Wellhead Protection Guidance Document [PDF] for additional information.
- New Well Site Application [DOC]
- Additional Resources
Phase II
After a specific period of time depending on system size and Phase I approval date, systems are required to document implementation of the Phase I and update their management strategy.
- Phase II Application Form [PDF]
- Phase II Implementation Guidance
- Phase II Implementation Table
- Phase II Implementation Ideas
- Locating Your Local Planning Team Members
- Office of Land Quality Remediation Sites: A Potential Source of Contamination in Your Wellhead Area
- Underground Storage Tanks: Working With USTs in Your Wellhead Protection Area
- Additional Resources
Hoosier Water Guardian Awards Program
All communities with an approved Phase I Wellhead Protection Plan may apply for the Hoosier Water Guardian Award. This award program measures the progress made toward implementing the plan and recognizes those communities that go above and beyond the state's minimum requirements.
Proximity Determination: Is My Site Within a Wellhead Protection Area?
Note: Approved Wellhead Protection Areas are no longer available on-line due to recent legislation classifying this type of information as Confidential.
If you need information regarding the proximity of a specific site in relation to a Wellhead Protection Area, please do the following:
- Download the Wellhead Protection Proximity Request Form [PDF]
- Fill it out completely
- Return it to this office (via e-mail, fax, or mail)
Upon receipt, we will mail you an official Wellhead Protection Area Proximity determination documentation for the site in question.
If you have any questions, please contact IDEM via email at "info at idem.in.gov" or via phone at (317) 232-8603.
Wellhead Protection Program Tracking
IDEM maintains a listing of the due dates for all Community Public Water Supply Systems with Wellhead Protection Plans. This listing is sorted by County and includes the Community’s PWSID, population, Phase I Approval Date, Phase II Due Date, and a contact name and phone number. This database is available to anyone and can be accessed to determine the status of a community’s plan.
Additionally, IDEM maintains a Drinking Water Facility Database that includes information about public water systems in Indiana, such as system type, population, address, contact person(s), and analytical results from water monitoring and reporting in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
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