Code Enforcement : Groundwater

GROUNDWATER PROTECTION PROGRAM

The Town of Salem implemented the Drinking Water Resource Protection Program in 1996 in an effort to protect the Town's water resources from degradation by improper use of regulated substances. This program involves the inspection of facilities which utilize, handle, store, and/or produce regulated substances (hazardous materials) that are greater than or equal to 5 gallons. This program is basically a non-regulatory approach to protect, and encourage others to protect, groundwater and sources of public drinking water.

The State of New Hampshire's Best Management Practices Rules are utilized during this audit type of inspection (http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/dwgb/documents/dwgb-22-4.pdf). These rules apply to all facilities that handle larger-than-household quantities of regulated substances. These facilities are identified in New Hampshire's Groundwater Protection Act (RSA 485-C) as Potential Contamination Sources (PCSs). The purpose of the BMPs outlined in the rules is to prevent a release of regulated substances. The BMPs in the rules are essentially common-sense operating practices that have already been adopted by businesses interested in minimizing their environmental liability.

The Department of Environmental Services approved the Town of Salem’s request for protection of two areas of groundwater. These areas include the wellhead protection area surrounding the Turner and Donnigan public water supply wells and the groundwater within the watershed of Canobie Lake.

Components of the Salem program include:

• An inventory of all Potential Contaminant Sites within the delineated groundwater protection areas is maintained.

   

• An inspection is conducted of each facility once every three years to ensure compliance with the State of NH Best Management Practice Rules.

   

• Facilities within the delineated watershed in Windham are inspected by the NH Department of Environmental Services.