2019-Reading-Area-Water-Source-Water-Protection-Plan-1

Source Water Protection Program September 2019

Reading Area Water Authority Source Water Protection Program

Prepared for: Reading Area Water Authority 1801 Kutztown Road Reading, PA 19604 September 2019

Prepared by: Spotts, Stevens and McCoy Engineering and Environmental Services

______Lyn O’Hare, Water Resources Specialist

Reading Area Water Authority PWSID# 3060059 Berks County, PA Source Water Protection Plan Update

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ...... 15 1.0 Introduction ...... 25 1.1 Project History and Objectives ...... 25 1.2 The Importance of Source Water Protection ...... 26 1.3 Overview of Source Water Protection Regulations ...... 27 1.4 Description of Study Area ...... 28 1.5 Previous Studies ...... 29 1.6 Overview of Water System ...... 33 2.0 Source Water Protection and Public Participation ...... 35 2.1 Development of Steering Committee and Partner Organizations ...... 35 2.2 Public Education and Participation in the Community ...... 35 3.0 Delineation of Protection Areas: Surface Water Sources ...... 39 3.1 Description of the Surface Water Sources ...... 39 3.2 Methodology for Delineating Surface Water Intake Protection Areas ...... 39 3.3 Description of the Surface Water Intake Protection Areas ...... 40 4.0 Contaminant Source Inventory ...... 43 4.1 Priority Concerns of the Water System ...... 44 4.2 PSOC Identification and Evaluation: Non-Point Sources ...... 44 4.3 PSOC Identification and Evaluation: Point Sources ...... 46 4.4 Continued Maintenance of the PSOC Database ...... 49 4.5 Land Use Assessment within Protection Areas ...... 49

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5.0 Contingency Planning ...... 51 5.1 Types of Contamination Events ...... 51 5.2 Emergency Response Planning ...... 51 6.0 Protection of Water Supply Sources ...... 53 7.0 Source Water Protection Management Plan ...... 55 7.1 Current Source Water Protection Efforts ...... 55 7.2 Ongoing and Future Management Strategies Selected by the Water System ...... 57 8.0 Implementing and Sustaining the Source Water Protection Program ...... 63 8.1 Maintenance of Source Water Protection Program ...... 63 8.2 Short- and Long-Term Implementation Goals ...... 63 8.3 Annual Reporting ...... 63 9.0 References ...... 65

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List of Tables

Source Water Protection Case Studies ...... Table 1-1 Potential Sources of Contamination Inventory - August 2019 ...... Table 4-1 Land Use Summary for Protection Areas ...... Table 4-2 Source Water Protection Management Strategies ...... Table 7-1 Source Water Protection Implementation Plan ...... Table 8-1

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List of Figures

Maiden Creek Watershed and Subbasins ...... Figure 1-1 Source Water Protection Areas - 2007 ...... Figure 3-1 Source Water Protection Areas - 2017 ...... Figure 3-2 Maiden Creek Watershed Monitoring Points - Map A ...... Figure 7-1 Maiden Creek Watershed Monitoring Points - Map B ...... Figure 7-2 Bailey's Creek Nutrient Tracking ...... Figure 7-3 Maiden Creek Nutrient Tracking ...... Figure 7-4

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List of Appendices

Executive Summary Reports of Surface Source Time-of-Travel ...... Appendix A Public Education Materials ...... Appendix B DEP Annual Program Update Form ...... Appendix C

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Glossary of Water Terms

Aquifer – a natural underground layer of sand, gravel, or rock that contains water.

Aquifer Recharge - Recharge is the rate at which precipitation infiltrates in the ground to supply water to groundwater wells or springs.

Community Water System – a public water system that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents.

Contaminant – A physical, chemical, biological or radiological substance or matter in water.

Delineate – to mark the outline of a groundwater or surface water study area.

Emergency Response Plan – a preparedness plan developed by a water system to form consistent procedures to provide safe and adequate drinking water in an emergency situation. The reference outlining the requirements is found in 025 PA Code §109.707.

Geology – The study of the Earth, and the Earth’s materials and processes.

Groundwater – water that is located within the saturated zone below the water table and is available to supply wells and springs.

Point Source Pollution – pollutants that come from a single exit point, like a pipe.

Management Strategies – approaches or options selected by the water supplier and the Steering Committee to protect the sources of drinking water currently and in the future.

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New Source – a source of water supply that is not covered by a valid permit or as a regular source of supply for the public water system.

Non-Point Source (NPS) Pollution – pollutants that are contained in water runoff from construction, roads, agriculture, or residential areas.

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) – a regulated stormwater management program required by municipalities with urbanized areas.

Source Water – the place from which water originates or is derived, including from wells, springs, reservoirs, streams, ponds, or lakes.

Source Water Assessments – an evaluation documented in writing of the potential contamination of a drinking water source, which includes identifying the contributing area to the source, an inventory of potential contaminants, and a determination of the susceptibility of the water source to contamination, as described in 025 PA Code §109.705.

Source Water Protection Area – a surface water intake protection area, a wellhead protection area, or both.

Source Water Protection Program – a surface water intake protection program, a wellhead protection program, or both, as described in 025 PA Code §109.713.

Study Area – the land regions that may impact the drinking water source.

Surface Water – water open to the atmosphere to subject to surface or stormwater runoff. This does not include finished water intended for distribution.

Surface Water Protection Area – the surface and subsurface area surrounding a surface water intake supplying a public water system, through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move toward and reach the water source. The protection areas consist of up to three (3) zones:  Zone A – a ¼ mile wide area inland from the edge of a water or surface water body and from an area ¼ mile downstream of the intake to a 5-hour time-of-travel upstream.

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 Zone B – a 2-mile wide area inland from the edge of a waterway or surface water body and extending upstream to the 25-hour time-of-travel.  Zone C – for drainage basins greater than 100 square miles, the remainder of the upstream basin. Zone B and Zone C (if present) comprise the contributing area for the source.

Surface Water Intake Protection Program – a comprehensive program designed to protect each surface water source used by a public water system.

Time-of-Travel – the amount of time water will take to move from the upstream end of a stream segment to a downstream specific location by calculating average stream flow data.

Topography – graphic display of the Earth’s surface including the elevation, and position of natural and man-made features.

Watershed – the land area from which water eventually drains to a body of water or other specific location.

Wellhead Protection Area – the surface and subsurface area surrounding a groundwater well, wellfield, spring, or infiltration gallery that supplies a public water system, through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move toward and reach the water source. The wellhead protection area must consist of up to three (3) zones:  Zone I – the protective area immediately surrounding the well, spring, or infiltration gallery with a radius between 100 and 400 feet, depending on site-specific source and aquifer characteristics.  Zone II – the zone encompassing the portion of an aquifer where water is diverted to a well, or flows to a spring, or infiltration gallery.  Zone III – as hydrogeologic conditions warrant, the zone beyond Zone II that provides groundwater recharge to Zone I and Zone II. Zones II and III, if present, comprise the contributing area for the water source.

Wellhead Protection Program - a comprehensive program designed to protect each well, spring, or infiltration gallery source used by a public water system.

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Acronyms

ARA Aquifer Recharge Area

AST Aboveground Storage Tank

BMP Best Management Practice

CWA Clean Water Act

DCNR Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

DEM Digital Elevation Model

DEP Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

ERP Emergency Response Plan

GIS Geographic Information System

GMS Groundwater Modeling System

MGD Million Gallons per Day

MODFLOW Modular Three-Dimensional Finite-Difference Ground-Water Flow Model

MODPATH Particle Tracking Post-Processing System

MS4 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System

NCLD National Land Cover Dataset

NPS Non-Point Source

PAGWIS Pennsylvania Ground Water Information System

PENNDOT Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

P.G. Professional Geologist

PS Point-Source

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PSOC Potential Source of Contamination

PWSID Public Water System Identification Number

SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act

SSM Spotts, Stevens and McCoy

SWAP Source Water Assessment and Protection program

SWP Source Water Protection

SWPTAP Source Water Protection Technical Assistance Program

TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load

TOT Time-of-Travel

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

USGS United States Geological Survey

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Reading Area Water Authority Berks County, PA Source Water Protection Plan Update

Executive Summary

Clean, safe drinking water is often taken for granted. Many people have no idea where their water comes from, how it is purified, or how it arrives at their sink. Protecting the raw water supply has been increasingly recognized as a critical element in the overall mission of delivering a safe and reliable supply of drinking water to consumers. Comprehensive source water protection not only benefits the water supply, but ultimately the economic, social, and environmental well-being of a community.

Project Background The Reading Area Water Authority (RAWA, PWSID# 3060069) provides drinking water to approximately 125,000 people in Berks County, southcentral Pennsylvania. The first public supply of water delivered in Reading was introduced in 1821 by the Reading Water Company. The Maidencreek Filter Plant was constructed in 1935, and can treat a capacity of 40 million gallons of water per day from Lake Ontelaunee, the primary water source. The Reading Area Water Authority was established in 1994.

RAWA wishes to preserve and improve the safety of its drinking water supply for its customers today and into the future., and is concerned about the possibility of contamination from agricultural activities around the watershed, which can trigger algae blooms in low-flow conditions. In 2004, RAWA applied for assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Source Water Protection grant program to develop a thorough and comprehensive source water protection plan. In 2007, DEP approved RAWA’s source water protection plan for implementation.

The objective of this project is to update the 2007 source water protection plan, with new delineations for the RAWA water sources, educate the public on the importance of source water protection, plan for potential pollution events, and maintain compliance with DEP’s Chapter 109 regulations.

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Description of Study Area Lake Ontelaunee is a 1,082-acre man-made lake with a storage capacity of approximately 3.88 billion gallons of water, and is designated for protection of Warm Water Fishes (WWF). Surface water enters the lake primarily from Maiden Creek, and another tributary, the Saucony Creek. Numerous other streams are present in the watershed, including several small tributaries that flow directly into the lake. Water discharged from Lake Ontelaunee flows over the dam at Route 61, through the lower Maiden Creek, and into the Schuylkill River, which joins the Delaware River to eventually empty into the Atlantic Ocean. Portions of property around the Lake are available to the public for recreational activities including biking, walking, fishing, and hunting.

Overall, the Maiden Creek Watershed covers approximately 216 square miles, and includes sections of 24 municipalities in Berks and Lehigh counties.

The watershed is comprised of three different sections of two physiographic provinces, which produce a variety of landforms and soils within a relatively small area. The southern slope of Blue Mountain is in the Appalachian Mountain section of the Ridge and Valley Province. The southern boundary of the watershed, including the north face of Irish Mountain and Sand Hill, lies within the Reading Prong Section of the New England Province. Elevations range from approximately 1,675 feet above sea level along Blue Mountain to 260 feet at the mouth of Maiden Creek.

Farmland and forest dominate the watershed; however, it also includes rural, low-density, and high- density residential areas. Two major highway corridors, Interstate 78 and Pennsylvania Route 222, traverse the watershed and include some commercial and industrial development.

Previous Studies This study builds upon previous work completed for the Reading Area Water Authority. The original watershed assessment was conducted in 1998 for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which found that potential contaminants to Lake Ontelaunee included bacterial contamination from humans and animals, sediment, and algae growth. Additional concerns were potential pollution from nutrients and pesticides flowing into local waterways from nearby agricultural operations, and point- source discharges from upstream industrial and commercial facilities.

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Based on a study completed in 1994, Lake Ontelaunee was placed on the 1996 303(d) list of impaired waterways, describing Lake Ontelaunee as impaired for nutrients (phosphorus and nitrates) and sediment. This placed a priority on the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) document, approved by EPA Region III staff in 2004. The TMDL calls for significant reductions in phosphorus and sediment in cropland and pasture, urbanized areas, and septic systems.

These assessments prompted RAWA to develop and implement a comprehensive source water protection plan, through a grant program offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In 2004, RAWA began a formalized plan that included a rigorous delineation of the water flowing to their intake, an inventory of Potential Sources of Contamination, specific management strategies to reduce potential contamination of their sources, contingency planning, and new source review. The plan was approved for implementation by the DEP in 2007.

In 2016, RAWA revised their potential contaminants inventory and time-of-travel study through an updated computer model that assessed overland flow from each potential contaminant location to the downstream receiving stream, flow through Lake Ontelaunee to the primary intake at the dam, and in- stream flow from the Maiden Creek headwaters to the Lake Ontelaunee confluence and secondary intake.

The time-of-travel study completed in 2016 provided the basis for the 2019 update. For this project, SSM staff created overland flow pathways between each new PSOC and the existing stream network, using ArcGIS software and topographical contours. High flow velocity was used for the stream network, since in most cases, potential contaminants would not reach the stream except during a rain event. Once velocities were applied to each segment in the network, time- of-travel could be calculated. Adjustments were then made to account for Lake Ontelaunee lag time, as was done in the 2016 study.

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grant funding to establish Best Management Practices (BMPs) on farms with small waterways in the watershed, and conduct pre- and post-project water quality monitoring. In 2014, the Delaware River Watershed Initiative provided additional funding to concentrate on specific areas of improvement, based on impairments to the Maiden Creek and other tributaries that need assistance to reduce nutrients and sediment flowing to the Schuylkill River.

The Lower Maiden Watershed Implementation Plan was developed in 2017, and submitted for DEP and EPA review. This plan focuses on the Moselem Creek and three tributaries that are impacted by agricultural activities within the watershed.

The USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service’s National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) invests in targeted assistance to farmers in selected watersheds to improve the water quality in high- priority streams. In 2019, the Maiden Creek Watershed was selected for a pilot study area, with meetings and projects to improve water quality to be prioritized through partnerships with local organizations. A comprehensive Watershed Assessment was developed by NRCS staff and submitted for evaluation for project selection. RAWA provided much of the water quality information for this document.

Description of Water System The Reading Area Water Authority directly provides drinking water to approximately 87,000 people in Reading, Pennsylvania and several surrounding communities, and can serve up to 125,000 people through interconnections with other water systems. The primary water source is Lake Ontelaunee in

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the Maiden Creek Watershed, located northeast of the City of Reading in Berks County. A supplemental intake is located downstream of the Ontelaunee Dam, in the Maiden Creek.

The Maidencreek Filter Plant is permitted to withdraw up to 35 million gallons of water per day from Lake Ontelaunee. The plant utilizes conventional treatment systems, including disinfection, filtration, and other controls. The treated water from the filter plant flows by gravity to two 10-million gallon water storage basins, then to the Maidencreek Pumping Station for distribution to customers. RAWA has several one-way interconnections with neighboring water systems where RAWA can provide water, but not receive it, as well as two-way interconnections, where either system can provide or receive water.

RAWA has also purchased over 2,000 acres within the watershed to help keep it in a natural state, and staff plants approximately 1,000 trees each year on city property around the lake to reduce additional siltation.

Public Education and Partnerships The Reading Area Water Authority’s vision includes a team approach to Source Water Protection through partnerships with watershed stakeholders. RAWA staff serves on the Berks County Source Water Protection Committee, and offers collaboration on projects within the Maiden Creek Watershed. This committee will also serve as a partner in RAWA’s continued participation in endeavors for improving Lake Ontelaunee and the entire watershed.

RAWA also provides notification to people driving within the protection areas that they are traveling in a water supply area. In 2009, RAWA staff and other partners installed water supply signs both on state highways and local roadways. These signs are an education tool to alert drivers to notify emergency responders if they witness an accident or spill that may impact a nearby waterway.

In addition to these coordinated efforts, RAWA conducts much of its own public education in the community. RAWA operates a dedicated website, with a Source Water Protection webpage. Information on the 1998 watershed assessment, the RAWA program, and brochures on various topics are available for review and downloading at http://www.readingareawater.com/source-water/ .

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Partnering with the Berks County Conservation District (BCCD), RAWA stenciled several hundred stormdrains within the City of Reading, its primary area of service. These stencils alert residents that the stormdrains lead directly to a river.

In 2015, RAWA partnered with the Borough of Hamburg and the Hamburg Municipal Authority to install signage in the Furnace Creek Watershed, a tributary to the Maiden Creek. The Furnace Creek Watershed contains portions of the Appalachian Trail, which receives hundreds of hikers and other recreational visitors to the area. The signs provide information on the watershed, and warnings on tampering with a water supply.

Source Water Protection Areas The water quality in a lake, creek, reservoir, or other surface body is affected by the quality of all the water flowing into it and all the land upstream of it. Therefore, the entire drainage area upstream of a surface water source is considered part of a source water protection area. The areas described below were calculated using the average-flow results from the 2016 time-of-travel (TOT) study.

Zone A is the most protective area, and is the area within 0.25 miles on either side of a stream. Along the contributing streams, Zone A extends between an upstream point that represents, on average, a 5- hour TOT to the intake and a downstream point that is 0.25 miles below the intake. Zone A for Lake Ontelaunee covers 6.29 square miles in Ontelaunee, Maidencreek, and Perry Townships.

Zone B of a surface water source encompasses the drainage area extending upstream from Zone A to a 25-hour TOT along the contributing streams. Zone B for the Lake extends an additional 104.2 square miles, and covers portions of 14 municipalities in Berks County and one township in Lehigh County.

Zone C is typically the remainder of the watershed, or the drainage area contributing to streams greater than a 25-hour TOT. Zone C for the Lake intake encompasses another 81.85 square miles in 14 municipalities in Berks and Lehigh Counties.

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Potential Sources of Contamination (PSOCs) After the protection areas were delineated, publicly-available data was used to identify potential sources of contamination (PSOCs) within the areas. Both point sources and non-point sources were identified. Example of non-point sources, where contamination occurs over a widespread area, include stormwater runoff from agricultural fields, residential development, and commercial and industrial properties. Point sources, where contamination originates from a single discharge point, can include industrial or commercial facilities, permitted pipe discharges, and cleanup sites.

One of the primary non-point concerns for RAWA is nutrients (phosphorus and nitrates) from upstream farming operations flowing within the watershed, especially from properties along the Moselem Creek. Legacy sediments flowing down the creek as well as spills and releases from accidents on Interstate-78 can also cause contamination problems. Other non-point concerns include the goose population on the lake, and potential contamination from failing on-lot septic systems may also potentially impact water quality.

In the 2016 time-of-travel study, a table of current PSOCs was prepared by searching publicly-available environmental databases for regulated locations, as identified by a permit or an enforcement action. The PSOCs found through these database searches are point sources; non-point sources typically are not regulated. 157 sites were listed, and included examples of water pollution control and water resource discharges, storage tank sites, environmental cleanup areas, and biosolids application sites.

The 2019 TOT study also updated the evaluation of the PSOCs within the RAWA delineated protection areas. Twenty-four publically-available databases were assessed and compared with results from the 2007 and 2016 inventories. After consolidation of multiple results for a single facility, 274 point-source PSOCs were identified.

Contingency Planning In the event of an emergency that could impact the water supply, immediate action is often critical in preventing or minimizing contamination. RAWA maintains a comprehensive emergency plan as required by Section § 109.707(a) Department’s Safe Drinking Water Regulations. The Emergency Response Plan (ERP) will help provide safe and adequate drinking water under emergency conditions. Possible emergency situations include a distribution system line break, power outages, drought

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conditions, disinfection system failure, contamination of supply, source pump failure, and prolonged water outage. RAWA also maintains a notification system with the Berks County Department of Emergency Services. Staff is notified via a message system when there is a spill or accident that may impact waterways within the county.

Protection of Water Supply Sources While the Maiden Creek intake is permitted as a supplemental source, it may not completely replace demand from Lake Ontelaunee. The second intake is also downstream of the Lake intake, and therefore draws from the same water source. Any contamination event that would close the Lake intake may also impact the Maiden Creek intake. RAWA maintains interconnections with other nearby water systems that can help offset demand in case of emergency. In the event of a source failure, the water system will work with the DEP for a feasibility study and permitting of new sources of water supply.

Current Source Water Protection and Selected Management Strategies In addition to the public education and outreach described earlier, RAWA has been an outstanding model for voluntary watershed protection efforts in the community. Many activities are a direct result of the implementation strategies described in the 2007 Source Water Protection Plan, a selected few are described below:

RAWA is a Charter Member of Berks County Water & Sewer Association (BCWSA), which was formed in 2013; staff participates on the Source Water Protection and Education Committees.

RAWA has committed to extensive voluntary water quality sampling across the watershed, including financially supporting the USGS stream gauge at the confluence of the Saucony Creek and Maiden Creek, chemical and macroinvertebrate monitoring at numerous sampling sites across the watershed, and ongoing monitoring collaboration with the Schuylkill Action Network, the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, the Philadelphia Water Department, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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In order to reduce wildlife and fowl concentrations at the Lake, RAWA has contracted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement a goose management program to minimize pathogens effects in Lake Ontelaunee.

In 2013, RAWA received the 2013 Exemplary Source Water Protection Award for Large Systems from the American Water Works Association, recognizing the development and implementation of a strong and active source water protection program.

RAWA has also provided cost-share assistance for other organizations in both Berks and Lehigh counties to pursue watershed improvements through on-the-ground agricultural best management practices (BMPs), including conservation planning, tree plantings with Olivet clubs and school students, and participation in the US Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Implementing and Sustaining the Source Water Protection Program The Reading Area Water Authority management and staff recognize that the sustainability of this source water protection program is the only way to ensure successful improvements to the watersheds over time. RAWA realizes that communication with an intricate network of employees and partners will be required for the ongoing success of the program. A 5-year implementation plan for protecting its water supply has been developed, with each management strategy assigned a person/organization responsible for completing the activity, a timeframe or deadline to be accomplished, and possible financial and human resources needed to achieve the objective.

These activities and timeframes are voluntary, and any instances of missing intended goals do not have any consequence to RAWA or its staff. The management strategies outlined in this program will be reviewed, evaluated, and prioritized according to RAWA’s need to optimize its water system. New strategies may be added to the implementation list, and other options may be discontinued or suspended as human and financial resources are allocated.

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1.0 Introduction

1.1 Project History and Objectives

Clean, safe drinking water is often taken for granted. Many people have no idea where their water comes from, how it is purified, or how it arrives at their faucet. Protecting drinking water supplies has been increasingly recognized as a critical element in the overall mission of delivering a safe and reliable supply of drinking water to consumers. Comprehensive source water protection not only benefits the water supply, but ultimately the economic, social, and environmental well-being of a community.

The Reading Area Water Authority (RAWA, PWSID# 3060059) provides drinking water to approximately 125,000 people in Berks County, southcentral Pennsylvania. The first public supply of water delivered in Reading was introduced in 1821 by the Reading Water Company. At the time, the water works consisted of the Hampden Springs and wooden pipes in the streets for distributing the water. By 1865, the City of Reading had purchased the water company, which had grown into several spring sources and a larger distribution system. The Maidencreek Filter Plant was constructed in 1935, and can treat a capacity of 40 million gallons of water per day from Lake Ontelaunee, the primary water source. The Authority was established in 1994, with a governing body of seven Board members. [1]

RAWA wishes to preserve and improve the safety of its drinking water supply for its customers today and into the future. Although RAWA has had no serious problems with Lake Ontelaunee or Maiden Creek, it is concerned about the possibility of contamination from agricultural activities around the watershed, which can trigger algae blooms in low-flow conditions. In 2004, RAWA applied for assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Source Water Protection grant program to develop a thorough and comprehensive source water protection plan. In 2007, DEP approved the source water protection plan for implementation.

The objective of this project is to update the 2007 source water protection plan with new protection areas for the RAWA water sources, discuss potential sources of contamination, educate the public on the importance of source water protection, plan for potential pollution events, and maintain compliance with DEP’s new Chapter 109 regulations (see Section 1.3).

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1.2 The Importance of Source Water Protection

Developing a source water protection plan has numerous benefits. Some benefits are financial – for example, the reduced cost of water treatment. Other benefits are less tangible, including:  Reduced risk to human health  Protection of a valuable resource for current and future generations  Increased consumer confidence in water suppliers  Support of healthy ecosystems, recreation and other beneficial uses  Increased knowledge of the importance of protecting your public water supply sources  Developing methods and management strategies to mitigate any potential sources of contamination  Identifying and developing priorities to protect drinking water sources

The economic benefit of protecting a water supply Source Water Protection from contamination can be significant, as reducing Case Study or preventing pollution from reaching the water Adams County, Pennsylvania source can save the water system from additional Water Restrictions from Plant Fire, 2015 treatment cost. An EPA project that studied several In June 2015, 3.8 million gallons of water communities in the nation found that over time, the used to extinguish a fire at a chemical plant flowed into a neighboring creek, a tributary cost of reacting to a contamination event far of the South Branch Conewago Creek. This exceeds the cost of developing and implementing a contamination posed a significant threat to the New Oxford Municipal Authority, who source water protection plan. This study found that used the creek as their source of drinking cleanup costs could be as much as 30-40 times water. After learning of the incident, NOMA closed the intake to prevent any more expensive than prevention. [2] contamination of their treatment and distribution systems. NOMA utilized an interconnection with another water system, Scattered throughout this report are additional case bulk water tankers, and shipments of studies that provide greater detail regarding how finished water from nearby systems in order to provide service to their customers. A source water supplies can be contaminated and the mandatory conservation notice was issued impact the contamination can have on a for the service area to ensure sufficient water was available. After extensive water community. These case studies are included to quality testing and communication with PA reinforce the need to remain vigilant in protecting DEP staff, NOMA is back online. [23] drinking water for all Pennsylvanians.

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1.3 Overview of Source Water Protection Regulations

In 1974, Congress developed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to protect human health by ensuring clean drinking water was provided by public water systems. As the SDWA matured, States were required in 1986 to develop Wellhead Protection (WHP) Programs to protect public water systems using ground water sources from contamination that would adversely affect human health. The Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water regulations (25 Pa. Code § 109) were updated in 1994 to include some basic aspects of WHP which established three-tiered WHP areas, required ownership/control of the innermost WHP Area (Zone I) and set minimum elements for systems seeking DEP approval of their local WHP program.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the success of WHP efforts in identifying potential contaminant threats and minimizing risk to wells and springs through proper management of the contributing area, and the WHP concept was subsequently expanded to all sources used by public water systems in 1996 when the SDWA was reauthorized. States were now required to develop a Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) Program to assess all drinking water sources - surface water and ground water - serving public water systems for their susceptibility to pollution. The source water assessment serves as the skeletal framework for building a voluntary, community-based drinking water source protection program to prevent costly contamination of public drinking water sources. Most of these assessments for sources in existence at the time were completed by DEP or a contractor around 2003 and provided a general evaluation of the protection area for an existing water source. Efforts since then have focused on using the assessments as a basis for developing local source water protection (SWP) programs for community water systems. Source water assessments for unassessed sources are conducted as needed.

In August 2018, the PA Safe Drinking Water regulations were updated to incorporate source water assessments and expand protection efforts to all sources used by community water systems. As part of this update, DEP defined source water assessment, updated definitions of SWP Areas for surface-water and ground-water sources, revised permit application requirements to include a source water assessment of each new raw water source, and updated requirements for systems with an approved local SWP program. The update also includes a requirement to conduct an annual inspection of the SWP Area to identify and evaluate actual and probable sources of contamination, along with updating the source water assessment if needed. [3]

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Community water systems may opt to voluntarily develop a comprehensive, community-oriented SWP program for DEP approval. At the very least, approval by DEP allows better tracking to facilitate environmental program coordination, legitimizes a community-based effort and provides an opportunity for formal recognition and positive publicity. In order for DEP to approve a local SWP program, the plan must include the following elements: [4]  Formation of a steering committee representing, but not limited to, the water supplier, local government entities, water supply customers, farming and business community representatives (as applicable).  Encouragement of public participation through informational and educational activities.  A map of the delineation of areas to be protected, using approved DEP methods.  An assessment, including inventory of potential and existing sources of contamination to each permitted water source.  Development of a management plan to protect the water supply from potential contamination as part of a strategic long-term program, including potential adoption of municipal ordinances or transfer of development rights inside the protection areas, purchase of the source water protection area by the water system, public education, and other methods approved by DEP.  Preparation of a contingency plan for emergency response and alternate sources.  Provisions to protect sites identified for development of new water sources.  Provisions to review and update the program annually.

1.4 Description of Study Area

Lake Ontelaunee is a 1,082-acre man-made lake created in the 1920s, and has a storage capacity of approximately 3.1 billion gallons of water. The Lake has been designated by the DEP for protection of Warm Water Fishes (WWF). Surface water flows into the lake primarily from Maiden Creek and another tributary, the Saucony Creek. Numerous other streams contribute to the watershed, including several small tributaries that flow directly into the lake. Water discharged from Lake Ontelaunee flows over the dam at Route 61, through the lower Maiden Creek and into the Schuylkill River, which joins the Delaware River to eventually empty into the Atlantic Ocean. Portions of the property surrounding the Lake is available to the public for recreational activities including biking, walking, fishing, and hunting. Because the lake is a public water supply, lake access is limited to non-contact, non-boating activities. [5]

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Overall, the Maiden Creek Watershed covers approximately 216 square miles, and includes portions of 24 municipalities in Berks and Lehigh counties. The watershed is divided into 13 major subbasins, one for each of the ten major named tributaries and three for the main stem of Maiden/Ontelaunee Creek. [5] The subbasins are displayed in Figure 1-1.

The watershed contains two different types of geographical provinces, which produce a variety of landforms and soils within a relatively small area. The southern slope of Blue Mountain is in the Appalachian Mountain section of the Ridge and Valley Province. The southern boundary of the watershed, including the north face of Irish Mountain and Sand Hill, lies within the Reading Prong section of the New England Province. This section comprises 93 percent of the watershed by area, and includes Schochary Ridge in the northeastern quadrant of the watershed. Elevations range from approximately 1,675 feet above sea level along Blue Mountain to 260 feet at the mouth of Maiden Creek. [5]

Farmland and forest dominate the watershed; however, the watershed also includes rural and low- density residential land, as well as the Boroughs of Kutztown, Fleetwood, Lyons, and Lenhartsville in Berks County, and extends into some areas of Lehigh County. Two major highway corridors, Interstate 78 and Pennsylvania Route 222, traverse the watershed and include some commercial and industrial development. [5]

1.5 Previous Studies

This study builds upon previous work completed for the Reading Area Water Authority. Their original watershed assessment was conducted in 1998 for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which found that potential contaminants to Lake Ontelaunee included bacterial contamination from humans and animals, sediment, and algae growth. Additional concerns were potential pollution from nutrients and pesticides flowing into local waterways from nearby agricultural operations, and point- source discharges from upstream industrial and commercial facilities. The assessment concluded with recommendations for protection of the water supply, including:  Forming a local watershed coalition.  Financing watershed improvement efforts by area agencies and coalitions  Conducting long-term water quality monitoring  Providing public education A copy of the 1998 assessment is available on RAWA’s website. [6]

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Based on a study completed in 1994, Lake Ontelaunee was placed on the 1996 303(d) list of impaired waterways by the DEP, describing Lake Ontelaunee as impaired for nutrients (phosphorus and nitrates) and sediment. This placed a priority on the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load document, approved by EPA Region III staff in 2004. Phosphorus levels necessitated a reduction strategy to limit this nutrient from entering the Lake and encouraging algal blooms. The TMDL calls for significant reductions in phosphorus: 95% for cropland, 75% for pasture and hay areas, 85% in MS4 urbanized areas, and 97% for septic systems. Reductions to sediment contributors like cropland, unpaved roads and quarries were also highlighted. By managing sediment loading to the TMDL requirement, the lifespan of the Lake would be more than doubled. [7]

These assessments prompted RAWA to develop and implement a comprehensive Source Water Protection Plan, through a grant program offered by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. In 2004, RAWA began a series of steering committee meetings to develop a formalized plan that included DEP-required elements such as rigorous delineation methodology, an inventory of Potential Sources of Contamination, specific management strategies, contingency planning, and new source review. Some management options selected by the steering committee included dredging the upper neck of Lake Ontelaunee to remove built-up sediment; partnerships with other environmental agencies such as the Berks County Conservation District, the Berks Conservancy, and the Maiden Creek Watershed Association; developing a water quality database; and providing funding for watershed improvement projects. [5] The plan was approved by the DEP in 2007. The Executive Summary for this plan is available in Appendix A.

In 2016, RAWA contracted a revision of their time-of-travel (TOT) study and current potential contaminants inventory through an updated computer model that assessed overland flow from each potential contaminant location to the downstream receiving stream, flow through Lake Ontelaunee to the primary intake at the dam, and in-stream flow from the Maiden Creek headwaters to the Lake Ontelaunee confluence and secondary intake. Recommendations for long-term management included updating the rankings of the susceptibility analysis of priority potential sources of contamination, mapping locations of historic spills and releases, and updating the source water protection plan and ongoing management options. [8] The Executive Summary for this study is available in Appendix A.

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Many other studies have been conducted within the Maiden Creek Watershed by local agencies and organizations. Early reports focused on the current state of the watershed and evaluated options for stormwater and water resources management. By 2005, the Maiden Creek Watershed became a target area for project work, as the main tributary to the Schuylkill River. The Schuylkill Action Network obtained EPA grant funding to establish Best Management Practices (BMPs) on farms with small waterways in the watershed, and conduct pre- and post-project water quality monitoring. [9] Local agencies and organizations such as the Berks Source Water Protection Conservancy (now Berks Nature), the Berks Case Study

County Conservation District, and the Maiden West Virginia Creek Watershed Association have continued Chemical Spill in Elk River, 2014 ongoing water quality monitoring to sustain the In January 2014, industrial chemicals were success of BMP implementation projects. released into the Elk River in Charleston, WV from a leaking aboveground storage tank with inadequate secondary In 2014, the William Penn Foundation created the containment. The chemicals reached the drinking water intake of the West Virginia Delaware River Watershed Initiative, which American Water Kanawha Valley established eight sub-watershed “clusters” of focus Treatment Plant, which ultimately resulted in a Do-Not-Use order that affected areas to concentrate on specific areas of approximately 300,000 people in portions of improvement, based on impairments to the water. nine counties.

The Middle Schuylkill cluster encompasses the Shortly thereafter, the West Virginia Maiden Creek and other tributaries that need Legislature passed SB 373 requiring all water systems in the state with a surface assistance to reduce nutrients and sediment flowing water intake, or groundwater under the to the Schuylkill River. The initiative uses local influence of surface water, to update or develop a new source water protection plan conservation organizations to work with farmers by July 1, 2016. Additional regulations were for on-the-ground Best Management Practices that passed to establish standards and enforcement for proper management of reduce or eliminate pollutants from flowing into aboveground storage tanks. [22] waterways. [10]

The Lower Maiden Creek Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP), developed by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and Stroud Water Research Center, focuses on a portion of the Maiden Creek Watershed, upstream of Lake Ontelaunee. The focus area consists of four subwatersheds: the Moselem Creek, and three unnamed tributaries. The decision to concentrate on this section was due to its proximity to the Lake, and the impairments contributed from agricultural activities. The primary goal of the Watershed Implementation Plan is to reduce the phosphorus, nitrogen, sediment, and bacteria-

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related pollutants present in the tributaries. The plan identifies and prioritizes projects that will results in water quality improvements needed for delisting. [11]

In 2018, the Berks County Conservation District completed the Maiden Creek Watershed Water Quality Report. This study was conducted with the purpose of providing a snapshot of the long-term water quality trends within the watershed, and help prioritize restorative best management practices in selected focus areas of the Middle Schuylkill. Based on this evaluation, recommendations for implementation projects, monitoring, and restoration strategies can be made to local stakeholders. RAWA provided their watershed monitoring results database as part of this initiative. Overall, watershed health was determined to be graded a B-. Headwaters have good quality, but historical impairments of siltation, nutrients, and pathogens are present. The study recommended that Lake Ontelaunee be closely monitored to determine how it processes potential increases in sediment and nutrient runoff. [12]

The USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service’s National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) invests in targeted assistance to farmers in selected watersheds to improve the water quality in high- priority streams. Conservation practices include the promotion of soil health, reduction of erosion and nutrient runoff, and installation of filter strips, cover crops, reduced tillage and manure management. In 2019, the Maiden Creek Watershed was selected for a pilot study area, with meetings and projects to improve water quality to be prioritized through partnerships with local organizations. [13] In June 2019, a stakeholder’s meeting was held to determine the best and most efficient way to provide and protect drinking water in the Maiden Creek Watershed. Based on these discussions, a number of topics were repeated and established as priorities of the stakeholder’s group within the watershed, including water quality degradation from excess nutrients, excess pathogens and chemicals from manure, biosolids or compost applications, and excess sediment in surface waters. Geographically, it was determined that the most important location within the watershed is to focus funding in the Lower Maiden Creek and specifically into areas within Zone A and Zone B of RAWA’s Source Water Protection Plan. After this meeting, a comprehensive Watershed Assessment was developed by NRCS staff and submitted for evaluation for project selection. RAWA provided much of the background, PSOC information, and water quality data for this document. [14]

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1.6 Overview of Water System

The Reading Area Water Authority directly provides drinking water to approximately 87,000 people in Reading, Pennsylvania and several surrounding communities, and serves a total of 125,000 people through interconnections with other water systems. The primary water source is Lake Ontelaunee in the Maiden Creek Watershed, located northeast of the City of Reading in Berks County. Lake Ontelaunee was constructed in 1926. A second intake is located downstream of the Ontelaunee Dam, which withdraws directly from Maiden Creek behind the filter plant.

The Maidencreek Filter Plant has a permitted treatment capacity of 40 million gallons per day (MGD), and allocation permit that allows a maximum withdrawal of 35 MGD. The plant utilizes conventional treatment systems, including disinfection, filtration, and other controls. Disinfection is achieved using gas chlorine as a pre-treatment to the raw water, and after filtering. Other treatment processes include pH adjustment, particulate removal, taste and odor controls, fluoridation, and the addition of a corrosion inhibitor. The treated water from the filter plant flows by gravity to two 10-million gallon water storage basins, then to the Maidencreek Pumping Station, which has an average daily pumping rate of 11.5 million gallons. A variety of storage facilities owned and maintained by the Authority, including clearwells, on-ground and in-ground basins, and standpipes, provide water into the treatment and distribution systems. RAWA has several one-way interconnections with neighboring water systems where RAWA can provide water, but not receive it. These systems include West Reading Borough, Wyomissing Borough, Shillington Borough, Bern Township Municipal Authority, Ontelaunee Township Municipal Authority, and Pennsylvania American Water Company. RAWA has two-way interconnections with Western Berks Water Authority and Muhlenberg Township Authority, where either system can provide or receive water. RAWA also has contracted to provide water to Birdsboro Power in Birdsboro, Berks County.

RAWA has also purchased land within the watershed to help keep it in a natural state, and staff plants approximately 1,000 trees each year on city property around the lake to reduce additional siltation.

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2.0 Source Water Protection and Public Participation

2.1 Development of Steering Committee and Partner Organizations

The Reading Area Water Authority’s vision includes a team approach to Source Water Protection through partnerships with watershed stakeholders. In 2016, a Source Water Protection Steering Committee was formed by the Berks County Water & Sewer Association to assist with development of the Berks County Source Water Protection Source Water Protection Program. The committee meets quarterly, and is Case Study comprised of project stakeholders, including drinking water systems, governmental agencies, Erie County, Pennsylvania Algae Toxins in Drinking Water, 2014 local officials, environmental and civic organizations, teachers, citizens, and other Communities that draw their drinking water from Lake Erie are spending thousands of interested groups. The steering committee (a) dollars to test and treat algal toxins like provides comments and ideas for the program with those that contaminated the water supply for more than 400,000 people in Ohio. The real respect to knowledge of issues in the watershed; (b) costs for water utilities come during water serves as a sounding board for ideas and treatment. One regional plant, which treats 9 million gallons of water each day, spent recommendations being developed as part of the $50,000 to remove the toxin last year, and source water protection program; and (c) helps to another spent $60,000 fighting 2011’s record-setting algal bloom. Plants have also carry the “message” of Source Water Protection had to increase the amounts spent on other back to its representative organizations and chemicals, because the amounts increase when toxins are present [19]. communities. RAWA staff serves on the committee, and offers collaboration on projects within the Maiden Creek Watershed. This committee will also serve as a partner in RAWA’s continued participation in endeavors for improving Lake Ontelaunee and the entire watershed.

2.2 Public Education and Participation in the Community

As a member of the Berks County Source Water Protection Committee, RAWA will benefit from a participation in these goals and activities described in the Berks program:  Assistance with implementation of the Berks County Regional Source Water Protection Plan.  Inclusion with county-wide management strategies selected in the program.  Coordination activities to reduce duplication of effort between water systems and other organizations.  Communication and liaison with other source water users.

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 Support with local environmental volunteer efforts.  Coordinated education efforts with the MS4 steering committee in stormwater management.  Coordinated water quality monitoring in the Maiden Creek and Schuylkill River watersheds.

Partnering with the Berks County Conservation District (BCCD), RAWA stenciled several hundred stormdrains within the City of Reading, its primary area of service. This project and other collaborative efforts resulted in the BCCD naming RAWA the “2008 Conservation Organization of the Year”.

Public education is important to the RAWA management and staff, and has provided source water protection demonstrations and education to local school students, including the I-LEAD Charter School, elementary students at the AquaPolluzza event at Berks Nature, and continues to help the BCCD with activities in the Berks County Senior Envirothon. RAWA staff has provided guest appearances on the local television station (BCTV), and sponsored presentations at several workshops for the Schuylkill Watershed Congress. Other public education events include tours for the Olivet clubs on the Lake property, and tree plantings with students from the Schuylkill Valley Middle School.

RAWA also provides notification to people driving within the protection areas that they are traveling in a water supply area. RAWA staff and other partners worked with the BCCD, Spotts, Stevens and McCoy, the Maiden Creek Watershed Association, and PennDOT Region 5 to install signage both on state highways and local roadways. These signs are an education tool to alert drivers to notify emergency responders if they witness an accident or spill. In 2009, 30 signs were created to raise visitor awareness of drinking water areas and encourage emergency response in a spill or release situation.

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RAWA has been a member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and cooperates with the Berks County Department of Emergency Services (DES) in attempts to develop a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) layer of protection areas in the county. RAWA has provided training to local responders to improve spill and release response procedures. The DES staff also provides real- time notification to RAWA and other water systems of release incidents within the Schuylkill River watershed.

To provide some awareness of the effects of chemical runoff on waterways, RAWA contacted three area golf courses (two in Berks County, one in Lehigh County) to encourage better management of fertilizer application on the greens. Informational brochures on a variety of topics, including septic system maintenance and household hazardous waste were presented to Ontelaunee Township and North Heidelberg Township for distribution or posting on their website.

In 2016, RAWA partnered with the Borough of Hamburg and the Hamburg Municipal Authority to install signage in the Furnace Creek, a tributary to the Maiden Creek. The Furnace Creek Watershed contains portions of the Appalachian Trail, which receives hundreds of hikers and other recreational visitors to the area. The signs provide information on the watershed, and warnings on tampering with a water supply.

RAWA staff also participated in the 2017 “Farming Around the Lake” tour, hosted by the Berks Agricultural Resource Network. This self-guided tour attracts several hundred people annually. RAWA staff provided education to visitors on strategies they employ to address water quality issues at Lake Ontelaunee.

In 2019, Reading High School conducted the first “Green Between” educational event, and RAWA staff provided an educational booth and drinking water for over one hundred students attending this event.

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3.0 Delineation of Protection Areas: Surface Water Sources

This section describes the methodology for identifying the protection areas for the Reading Area Water Authority’s two surface water intakes. These protection areas were determined using available data and hydrologic methods consistent with DEP guidance. The summary of the approach and resulting protection areas are described below.

3.1 Description of the Surface Water Sources

At present, the water supply for the City of Reading is obtained mainly from Lake Ontelaunee, which was constructed in 1926, and is located about eight (8) miles north of the City. Lake Ontelaunee has a water surface area of 1,082 acres and a capacity of 3.88 billion gallons of storage. Raw lake water is delivered to the Maidencreek Filter Plant by gravity via a 2,800 foot long, concrete-lined 81-inch diameter tunnel, and a 60 inch diameter, 4,880 foot long, concrete conduit respectively. The Maiden Creek intake supplements the Lake Ontelaunee supply in some conditions. This intake is located directly behind the filter plant, approximately ½ mile downstream of the Ontelaunee Dam.

3.2 Methodology for Delineating Surface Water Intake Protection Areas

For the original 2007 source water delineation model, the protection areas were determined using DEP guidance documents, based on federal guidance developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The state-wide uniform approach established the distance covered by water flowing in a stream during a 5-hour and 25-hour time period (Zone A and Zone B). Zone C covers any portion of the watershed higher than a 25-hour time-of-travel. If there is not any actual stream velocity data (such as a USGS stream gauge), a default velocity of 5 miles per hour (approximately 7 feet per second) was used to calculate the Zone A and Zone B protection areas. No direct measurements were available for Maiden Creek, so the default velocity of 7 feet per second was used for the 2007 study. This method determined that the entire 216 square mile watershed was within the 25-hour time-of-travel (TOT). [5] Figure 3-1 displays the protection areas delineated from this report.

Technology advances, increased availability of data, and the installation of a USGS stream gauge in the Maiden Creek Watershed provided new information to reassess the time-of-travel using a combination of computer-aided methods to model the stream flow. The 2016 updated study contracted by RAWA also included calculations for residence time through Lake Ontelaunee, which dramatically

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decreased the TOT to the primary intake. The study also determined different flow rates for high, average, and low flow conditions. The traditional 5-hour and 25-hour zone determination has limited usefulness in management of the watershed contributing to their intakes, as a uniform stream flow does not characterize actual conditions in the watershed. [8]

The time-of-travel study completed in 2016 provided the basis for an update conducted in 2019. In the 2016 study, a stream network and overland flow pathways from each point source PSOC was established, along with an average mean annual velocity and low, average, and high flow time-of-travel for each stream segment. In addition, adjustments were made to the TOT for each PSOC to account for lag time in Lake Ontelaunee. For the 2019 update, SSM staff created overland flow pathways between each new PSOC and the existing stream network, using ArcGIS software and topographical contours. The average velocity of all overland flow pathways from the 2016 study was calculated and applied to the newly created pathways. High flow velocity was used for the stream network, since in most cases, potential contaminants would not reach the stream except during a rain event. Once velocities were applied to each segment in the network, time-of-travel could be calculated. Adjustments were then made to account for Lake Ontelaunee lag time, as was done in the 2016 study. The final TOT study and related PSOCs were delivered to RAWA staff via an online ArcGIS software program.

3.3 Description of the Surface Water Intake Protection Areas

The water quality in a lake, creek, or other surface body is affected by the quality of all the water flowing into it and all the land upstream of it. Therefore, the entire drainage area upstream of a surface water source is considered part of a source water protection area. The areas described below were calculated using the average-flow results from the updated 2016 study, as shown in Figure 3-2.

Zone A is the most protective area, and is the area within 0.25 miles on either side of the stream. Along the contributing streams, Zone A extends between an upstream point that represents, on average, a 5- hour TOT to the intake and a downstream point that is 0.25 miles below the intake. Zone A for Lake Ontelaunee covers 6.29 square miles in Ontelaunee, Maidencreek, and Perry Townships.

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Topton, Lenhartsville, Lyons, and Kutztown Boroughs. A small section of Lynn Township in Lehigh County is also included in Zone B.

Combining the protection areas with the streams flowing to the Maiden Creek intake would increase the watershed drainage area to a total of approximately 192 square miles.

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4.0 Contaminant Source Inventory

After the original protection areas were delineated for the 2007 source water protection plan, a comprehensive inventory of potential sources of contamination (PSOCs) was compiled for the areas, using public information available at the time. An updated inventory was included in the 2016 time-of- travel study. PSOCs are locations or activities that can adversely affect the quality of the water supply. It is important to note that land uses, activities, or individual industries identified in the PSOC inventory are not necessarily a source of pollution; however, they have the potential for contaminating surface water.

PSOCs include activities that use, store, transport, or dispose of the following types of contaminants:  Regulated contaminants with federal primary and secondary maximum contaminant levels for safe drinking water

 Materials on the EPA contaminant Source Water Protection candidate list and contaminants with EPA Case Study lifetime health advisories or cancer risk Pennsylvania numbers; most of these are on the Clean Tanker Spills Fuel Into River, 2010

Water Priority Pollutant List Thousands of gallons of fuel spilled near the  Giardia and Cryptosporidium Susquehanna River after a tanker truck crashed on a major highway. Local water  Turbidity intakes were closed or monitored, and  Disinfection by-product precursors materials were placed in the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers to prevent contamination  Taste and odor precursors of the drinking water intakes. Fortunately,  Pharmaceuticals and other endocrine only a small amount of fuel was found in the Juniata River, and none in the Susquehanna, disruptors which provides drinking water for hundreds  Other contaminants, as necessary, based of thousands of people in the basin area [18].

upon known potential contaminant sources.

PSOCs can be non-point sources (where contamination occurs over a widespread area) or point sources (where contamination originates from a single discharge point). Examples of non-point sources include stormwater runoff from agricultural fi