Steps to Designate a Sole Source Aquifer
The Goal of The Sole Source Aquifer Program: Protect People’s Health
The Sole Source Aquifer Program is authorized by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Under the program, the two criteria EPA focuses on to designate an aquifer sole source are:
(1) It must be the sole or principal source (at least 50%) of drinking water for people living in the area.
(2) There can be no other feasible source of drinking water in the area.
While sole source aquifer designations can boost state and local efforts to protect aquifers, they do not give comprehensive protection. A designation allows EPA to review and approve federally-funded projects which could contaminate the aquifer. This review aims to prevent drinking water that comes from the aquifer from being contaminated, protecting people’s health.
EPA does not review private, state, or locally-funded projects. EPA typically reviews only those federal projects posing the greatest risk of becoming contaminated and affecting people’s health. Some examples are federally-funded road projects, sewage treatment facilities, and storm water runoff plans
Steps to Designate a Sole Source Aquifer
- Petitioner requests designation
- EPA writes a draft support document to designate the aquifer sole source
- Public comment period held for draft support document
- EPA reviews and considers comments
- EPA writes the final support document
- EPA Region 10’s Administrator uses final support document to decide whether to designate the aquifer
Request to Designate Troutsdale Aquifer as Sole Source for Drinking Water
Questions and Answers about the Sole Source Aquifer Program
More About the Sole Source Aquifer Program