Before you can protect drinking water, you need to from where it comes. The first step in developing a source water protection plan is verifying the source for the water supply. Once confirmed, we work closely with the water supplier and community representatives to identify ways of protecting these areas. We characterize potential sources of contamination, develop protective management strategies, plan for emergencies, and provide new water supply options. Our professionals delineate protective zones around each well or surface water intake to show the areas that contribute to the drinking water supply and educate stakeholders on watershed improvement.

Why is source water protection important?

Public Health Protection – Source water protection plans help minimize threats to public health by keeping harmful contaminants out of the water supply.

Reduced Treatment Costs – Clean water is less expensive to treat and reduces system operation and maintenance costs.

Economic Benefits – Clean and plentiful water will enhance your community’s potential to attract employers, maintain a healthy economy, and possibly enjoy the benefits of tourism.

Environmental Stewardship – Protecting water resources will sustain the native ecosystem and improve the quality of life for future generations.

The technology of source water protection is constantly evolving. SSM is committed to providing water systems the tools needed to protect their precious water supply through a variety of consulting services.

HIGHLIGHT PROJECTS

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Concept Design for Probable Maximum Flood

Using Traveltime Along Local Streams to Understand Watersheds

Detailed stream flow data and calculations were used to evaluate time-of-travel throughout both of the watersheds that are utilized for the City of Allentown’s surface water sources.

PSOC Inventory Update Identifies Hundreds of Sites

RAWA is conducting ongoing verification of their new PS PSOC inventory, containing more than 400 sites. The above images displays a portion of these sites within their Zone A protection areas.

Analyzing Discharge Points in Preparation of Potential Contamination

Western Berks Water Authority has an inventory of upstream dischargers that they plan to work with in the event of positive cryptosporidium test results.

Maximizing Partnership Opportunities

The SAN Agricultural Workgroup hosts informational workshops for colleagues and the community. Here, attendees tour a local farm that has implemented several best management practices. In 2013, SAN honored SSM with their Schuylkill Watershed Community Partner Award, for our commitment to the program

Implementing source water protection activities with a Watershed Coordinator

SSM assists water systems, like Western Berks Water Authority, in the planning and execution of community and implementation events each year.

Source Water Protection Model Used to Evaluate Possible Pipeline Leak

As part of an approved Source Water Protection Plan, SSM created a three-dimensional groundwater flow model to determine the direction and time-of-travel of groundwater entering the supply wells. Within one hour of receiving the information of the possible pipeline leak, SSM’s lead computer modeler was able to determine a predicted groundwater flow path that a contaminant would take upon entering the groundwater aquifer.

Source Water Protection Technical Assistance Program (SWPTAP)

In conjunction with PADEP, SSM assists water systems in developing source water protection plans using GIS. Our professionals delineate protective zones around each well or surface water intake to show the areas that contribute to the drinking water supply, working closely with the water supplier and community representatives to identify ways of protecting these areas.

NEWSFEED

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STEM/STEAM Day

Mariner East 2 Pipeline Grant Opportunity

2018 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence

First Presbyterian Church set to acquire Wyomissing property

Sam Zook, SIT Receives Certification as Drone Pilot