Drinking Water: Stronger Efforts Needed to Protect Areas Around Public Wells From Contamination
RCED-93-96
Published: Apr 14, 1993. Publicly Released: May 04, 1993.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) and state efforts to implement the wellhead protection (WHP) program, focusing on the: (1) barriers to states' WHP program development and implementation; and (2) options available to overcome implementation barriers.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Agency | To enhance the protection of groundwater and prevent future contamination problems, the Administrator, EPA, should work with the states to determine the minimum funding levels needed to implement their WHP programs adequately. |
Closed – Implemented
Through its regional office staff, EPA collected information on state funding needs for the Wellhead Protection Program for all states having approved wellhead protection programs. Additional data collection efforts on funding needs are not planned.
|
| Environmental Protection Agency | To enhance the protection of groundwater and prevent future contamination problems, the Administrator, EPA, should work with the cognizant authorizing and appropriations committees of Congress during the fiscal year 1994 budget process to identify minimum funding levels that are better aligned with the benefits of WHP programs as preventive programs designed to reduce the contamination of the nation's drinking water. |
Closed – Implemented
Although EPA's fiscal year 1995 budget does not contain funding for wellhead protection, EPA has been working with the cognizant authorizing committees of Congress on various issues relating to the reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act. As part of these discussions, EPA is recommending that source water protection programs, including wellhead protection, be eligible for funding under the proposed Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
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ContaminationEnvironmental legislationEnvironmental policiesstate relationsHealth hazardsLand managementPollution monitoringPotable waterState programsWater pollution controlWater qualityGroundwater