Valley fill aquifers consist of sand and gravel deposited during the melting and retreat of glacial ice.

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What Is An Aquifer? An aquifer is a rock or
sediment formation that is capable of supplying
usable amounts of water.
Courtesy USGS
Valley fill aquifers consist of sand and gravel
deposited during the melting and retreat of
glacial ice.
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The Buried Valley Aquifer Systems of Northern
New Jersey
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• The Buried Valley Aquifer Systems were designated
  as sole source aquifers by the US Environmental
  Protection Agency (EPA) because they provide
  drinking water to over 50 of the people in this
  service area.
• However...
• Portions of the aquifer have already been
  contaminated.
• Increased impervious surfaces prevent
  necessary recharge.
• Increased withdrawals could deplete the
  resource.

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Ground Water Discharge
Gravity pushes water from high pressure recharge
areas toward low pressure discharge areas. Ground
water takes the path of least resistance.
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Soil Type Haledon Complex Climate Factor
Chatham Borough
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Land Use and Precipitation Pathway Changes
Less evapo-transpiration
Increased runoff
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What is Well Head Protection?
A systematic approach to reducing contamination
of water supply wells by restricting and
regulating specific land uses and activities that
could potentially introduce contaminants into a
wells ground water supply area.
The Model Well Head Protection Ordinance focuses
on public community wells.
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Why Well Head Protection?

• Because problems with pollution in the past
• warrant greater protection now.

• The state-required 50 foot protection radius
• for public community wells is not adequate.

• Decisions made now will affect residents in
• the not-so-distant future.

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Buried Valley Aquifer Systems Chatham Borough
vicinity
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• Tier 1 (Red)
• Travel time to well 2 years or less.
• Critical concern bacteria and viruses.
• Pollutants quickly reach well.
• Prevention is the only solution.

WHPA Tiers

• Tier 2 (Orange)
• Travel time to well 5 years or less.
• Critical concern petroleum products
• and hazardous substances.
• Prevention is the best solution.

Well Head

• Tier 3 (Yellow)
• Travel time to well 12 years or less.
• Critical concern time for spill remediation.
• Best Management Practices.

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Pollution Example
After 18 months Contaminants reach well. Well
closed
Day 1
One year later
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Model Well Head Protection Ordinance Summaries ?
Any change in land use or activity that
introduces a Major or Minor Potential Pollutant
Source shall be prohibited within a Tier 1 Well
Head Protection Area. These rules apply only to
future activities, not to existing uses.
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Model Well Head Protection Ordinance Summaries ?
Any change in land use or activity that
introduces a Major Potential Pollutant Source
shall be prohibited within a Tier 2 Well Head
Protection Area. These rules apply only to
future activities, not to existing uses.
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Model Well Head Protection Ordinance Summaries ?
Any changes in land use or activity that involves
any Potential Pollutant Source within any Well
Head Protection Area, that is not prohibited,
shall comply with Best Management
Practices. These rules apply only to future
activities, not to existing uses.
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Project Goals
To have municipal Well Head Protection
Ordinances adopted and implemented throughout the
region...
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and to foster inter-municipal cooperation on
Well Head Protection plans.