Source Water Assessment
Need assistance? Please contact
Kitty Weisman, Source
Water Protection Program Lead.
Washington State's Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) was
developed with public participation to improve protection of public
water supply sources and further protect the health of Washington's
citizens. Informed citizens are key to long-term drinking water
protection efforts. The SWAP program evaluates potential threats to the
safety of our water supplies by assessing sources of contamination.
This site provides information about the vulnerability of each of the
approximately 6,800 sources (wells/surface/springs) operated by
approximately 4,100 Group A public water systems serving a population of
approximately 5.3 million Washington citizens. This information is
provided in the form of
assessment reports and GIS coverage. (View
Interactive GIS Mapping Tool)
Frequently asked
questions
How do I see a map of my water
system or sources?
You may want to print a copy of
these directions and have them ready when you access the web
site.
- Click
Interactive
GIS Mapping Tool.
- When the page opens, click on the "Start" button at the
bottom of the page.
- When the disclaimer page opens, scroll down and type in
your e-mail address and password. Click on "login." (If
you've forgotten your password, follow directions on the
page).
- When the page opens, you have two choices. You can
browse the map to find your water system or type in your
water system information.
Browse map of water systems: View
the state map and make your selection by clicking on the
"Identify" tab at the top. Click on an area of the map.
Or choose a county from the drop down list. Click on the
"Identify" tab at the top and then click an area on the
map.
Browse list of water systems: Enter
your water system information. If you don't have all the
information you can type in some information and still
get a list of water systems to choose from. Click on
"map inventory."
If you have difficulties, click on "Help" in the left
column for more information.
How do I find my inventory list of
potential contaminant sources?
Repeat the steps above. When the map
appears click on "see list of known potential contaminant
sources."
What is a wellhead protection area?
A protected surface and subsurface
zone surrounding a well or well field supplying a public water
system to keep contaminants from reaching the well water.
What is a watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that
drains into a river, lake, stream, pond, or other body of water.
It includes the waterway itself and the entire land area that
drains into it. For example, the watershed of a lake includes
any streams emptying into the lake and the land area that drains
into those streams. A watershed can be small, like a backyard
puddle, or large, such as Lake Michigan.
Why is a watershed important?
We all live in a watershed and we
all rely on this water and other natural resources to exist. The
type of land use - agricultural, suburban, urban - and its
associated activities have a direct impact on the water quality
of the watershed. When it rains or when snow melts, the water
runs downhill into the watershed, carrying the effects of human
activities into the watershed. What you and others do on the
land impacts the quality and quantity of our water.
Do watersheds affect drinking water
quality?
Your watershed area is a unique and
dynamic place and the area nearest the water greatly affects
drinking water quality. Water conservation and preservation not
only improve water quality, but also save money by reducing the
pumping and treatment costs. They may also extend the life of
our water treatment facilities and are far less costly than
developing a new water supply.
What features make a watershed
unique?
Some watersheds are large and may
include many smaller watersheds. Others are small, like a puddle
in your backyard.
Boundary: The geographical
boundary of your watershed is formed by a ridge or high area
from which water either drains towards or away from your
watershed.
Terrain: How flat or how steep (terrain) the land is
impacts how fast the water drains. The faster the drainage, the
greater for potential flooding and increased soil erosion.
Soil Type: Sandy soil allows the ground to soak up water
faster, reducing runoff. Clay soils do not allow as much water
infiltration, leading to greater runoff.
Land Use: The area nearest the water can impact the
watershed. Is it a filter/buffer strip? Wildlife habitat?
Wetlands? Industry? Agriculture? Urban or suburban? All of these
add unique features to a watershed.
What is the difference between
"point" and "non-point" sources of pollutants?
Point source pollutants come from
specific places that we can identify and control. Examples of
point source pollutants include sewage treatment plants,
industries, hog lots, and storm sewers. Much progress has been
made in preventing water quality problems from point source
pollutants.
Non-point sources come from many
different areas as water runs off or moves through the ground.
They result from a wide variety of human activities in the
watershed. The severity of this type of pollution is
proportional to the state's population density and distribution,
the intensity of local agricultural activities, and other land
uses. Some examples include forest land runoff, failing septic
systems, parking lots, construction sites, and automobile
exhaust. Non-point source pollutants are difficult to identify,
measure, isolate and control.
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