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<br /> <br />Q & A -GENERAL GOALS AND <br />REQUIREMENTS OF <br />WELLHEAD PROTECTION <br />1. What is wellhead protection? <br />Wellhead protection is a method of preventing contamination of a public water supply well by <br />effectively managing potential contaminant sources in the area which contributes water to a public <br />water supply well. <br />2. What authority does the Minnesota Department of Health have to implement wellhead <br />protection? <br />The department is granted authority under Minnesota Statutes, Section 103I, subdivision 5, and <br />Minnesota Rules, parts 4720.5100 to 4720.5590. The statutory authority was granted in 1989 with the <br />passing of the Minnesota Groundwater Protection Act, which was a response to the 1986 amendment <br />to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The rules governing wellhead protection were adopted in <br />November 1997. <br />3. What is the benefit of wellhead protection? <br />A very clear benefit of wellhead protection is the emphasis on the prevention of drinking water <br />contamination versus the remediation of a contaminated drinking water supply. The cost of prevention <br />is less than the cost of remediation. <br />4. Does this rule affect private wells? <br />No. It only affects public water supply wells. <br />5. What is the definition of a public water supply well? <br />A public water supply well provides drinking water for human use to 15 or more service connections <br />or to 25 or more people for at least 60 days a year. A public water supply well is further defined as <br />either a community or noncommunity water supply well. <br />A. A community water supply well serves 15 or more service connections used by year-round <br />residents or at least 25 year-round residents. Examples include municipalities, subdivisions, and <br />nursing homes. <br />B. Noncommunity water supply wells are divided into two groups: <br /> A nontransient noncommunity supply well serves at least 25 of the same people over six <br />months of the year. Examples include schools, factories, and hospitals. <br /> A transient noncommunity well serves all other public water systems. Examples include <br />restaurants, gas stations, churches, parks, and campgrounds. <br />6. Is this voluntary? <br />No. All public water suppliers will be required to implement wellhead protection measures as <br />specified in Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4720. <br /> <br />August 2009