Hi! Thanks for your interesting question.
The following links provide examples on how water suppliers make use
of GIS and GPS technologies manage and protect water systems. In using
these technologies, they are usually in partner with local and federal
government entities. I will provide you with some quotes from the
articles so as to save you time but I highly recommend you read them
in their entire version.
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GIS
Monitoring:
“Using GIS, the overall watershed area was delineated based on USGS
elevation data. The watershed was then subset into three zones based
on Time of Travel (TOT) modeled by the USGS. The USGS provided the
TOT parameters, then the GIS was used to take their TOT model and
transform it into a protection zone polygon. The three zones were 1)
5-hour time of travel, 2) 25-hour time of travel and 3) the remainder
of the watershed. (Zone parameters may vary from state-to-state.)”
Inventories:
“Once the protection zones were delineated, the task of compiling the
potential contaminant inventory began. The Source Water Assessment
Program requires that all regulated and certain unregulated
contaminant sources be inventoried in the watershed protection zones.
A contaminant inventory database was developed in GIS that linked the
location of the potential contaminant source to data about that
source, such as the Activity Name, Contaminant Type, and Quantity of
Contaminants. The GIS was used to compile contaminant data from a
variety of sources: USGS, EPA, state government, county government,
local government, and watershed groups. In addition, a series of
public meetings were held and local citizens were able to provide
their input on potential contaminant sources.”
Protection and Repairs Monitoring:
“After the watershed protection zones and the contaminant inventory
was completed, a susceptibility analysis was run. The analysis
involved a series of rankings based on the location and
characteristics of the potential contaminants. In addition, the
amount of contaminant that could be potentially released was
considered, as well as whether any best management practices were
being used at the site containing potential contaminants. The entire
susceptibility analysis was completed using the GIS and a series of
database and look up tables. The result of the analysis was a map
showing critical areas within the watershed that pose the greatest
potential threat to the water quality. The susceptibility map can be
used later to develop a protection plan to address the 'hot spots' in
the watershed."
An assessment report detailing the findings is generated for, and will
be made available to, each water supplier. More importantly, since
the assessments are being conducted using GIS, the data will also be
made available so that water suppliers can use the information to
develop source water protection plans.”
“Assessments are being conducted for all public water systems: big and
small. The data is available to everyone. Water suppliers can expect
the following data:
• Watershed Boundary and Protection Areas
• Potential Sources of Contamination
• Critical Area Boundaries”
“A GIS is an effective tool to store, update, manage, analyze, and
visualize data. Water suppliers can use GIS in conjunction with the
source water assessments to help protect their water supplies”
“PROTECTING YOUR COMMUNITY’S WATER SUPPLY USING GIS”
by Melissa Faga and Nino Misiti
http://www.nrwa.org/2001/publications/articles/UsingGIS.htm
A sample project in the Kentucky Watershed Management website says
that mainly GIS is used for gathering data so as to prioritize
according to conditions any repairs or special attention should be
given to particular watersheds.
“Since everything we do in a watershed affects the soil, water, air,
plants, and animals in it, watershed management means reducing those
activities that result in runoff of soil and pollutants that might
negatively affect the quality or our streams, lakes and groundwater
and that affect droughts and flooding because of too little or too
much water in the watershed.”
“Based upon observed conditions in the watershed, from monitoring and
inventories, and predicted conditions, based upon geographic
information systems (GIS), watersheds will be prioritized. Priority
watersheds will receive extra attention through targeting of
programmatic resources and funding. Local area task forces will be
convened in priority watersheds to prepare action plans to solve the
environmental problems. For watersheds whose major concern is a water
supply problem, the water supply planning council will serve as the
lead organization, or local area task force.”
“Water Suppliers”
http://kywatersheds.org/Get_Involved/water_suppliers.htm
The Colorado government for example has also made available on their
website a description of a watershed management program with the help
of GIS in monitoring such critical locations.
“In December, 2000, the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment (CDPHE) selected URS Corporation to conduct the first
phase of the SWAP program in Colorado. Gary Karst, SWAP coordinator
for the state of Colorado, stated that "after reviewing proposals and
interviewing the finalists, the URS proposal was the most responsive
to achieving the overall goals of the SWAP program." URS Corporation
is a global engineering and planning firm that develops large-scale
infrastructure systems and provides environmental solutions that
restore ecosystems and protect resources.”
“Relatedly, a new Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) GIS map
of all watersheds in Colorado will aid URS in this process. This map
breaks the state up into different sized watersheds using the USGS
8-digit hydrologic units and NRCS 11- and 14-digit hydrologic units.
URS will be able to use this map as a geographical reference, and also
as the basis for determining the SWAAs for each PWS. Trees, Water &
People is now working on a related project that will plot the
boundaries of each watershed protection group in Colorado onto the
NRCS map.”
“Trees, Water & People is currently working on a project to customize
the GIS map of Colorado watersheds created by the Natural Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS). The edited version of the map will
indicate where watersheds are located, as well as show each watershed
group, the areas they are protecting, and their specific projects and
interests. This will help facilitate understanding between groups and
delineate which watersheds are being protected and which are not.”
“The mapping project eventually will be hosted on the TWP website and
individual copies will be distributed to watershed groups throughout
the state. Technical assistance in its use will become one of the
services that TWP will provide to watershed groups in Colorado.”
“New Federal Initiatives to Evaluate the Sources of Our Drinking
Water”
http://www.treeswaterpeople.org/region2.html
In Maine GIS companies usually service water suppliers and the whole
water industry.
“Maine's GIS firms make a variety of products such as electronic maps
for motorists and boaters, detailed charts of power line and gas
pipeline corridors, programs to manage areas for wildlife and software
to perform critical steps in GIS development. Their clients range from
state and national governments and multi-national corporations to
other GIS firms, local utility companies and individuals.”
“In addition to its oil spill information system, Geo-graphics, Inc.
has created software to identify threats to water supplies. Its Public
Drinking Water System Atlas can be used in remote locations to keep
track of pollution threats to wells and surface water. Another product
goes by the name, Environmental THUGs, or Threats Undermining
Groundwater. THUGs integrates data on well locations with land use
activities, such as landfills, gas stations and roadways. A water
supplier can use the system to identify all the potential pollution
threats within a specified distance from the well.”
"Maine Mapmakers Growing with Infusion of UMaine's Academic Talent"
http://www.umaine.edu/mainesci/Archives/SpatialInfoSci/Onsrud.htm
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GPS
“The state's 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) have informally
assisted public water suppliers in WHP for more than 10 years and also
helped develop the state's Source Water Assessment Program in 1998.
Using EPA funding, four NRDs have established dedicated WHP staff to
assist public water suppliers with inventories and development of
local WHP plans to manage potential contaminant sources. One NRD uses
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to locate potential
contaminant sources. These locations are easily plotted on digital
aerial photographs to show the public where potential threats to their
wells are found. This information is easily updated and electronically
stored and accessed.”
“Drinking Water Protection - A Sign of the Times”
http://www.deq.state.ne.us/Newslett.nsf/bb7e9f415afb88b186256a1e005d9d4e/7fd9ce3dd23bd34b86256a1e005f6a7e?OpenDocument
“The Maine Drinking Water Program (DWP), located within the Bureau of
Health, DHS, completed a multi-year project to locate, using global
positioning system technology (GPS), all 2600+ public water supply
wells and intakes in the state. The DWP has built a GIS coverage of
the data and is making the information available to other state
agencies, water suppliers, consultants, and municipalities in an
effort to increase awareness and protection of these sources of public
drinking water.”
“The Maine Office of Geographic Information Services (OGIS) has
developed an Internet mapping site through which anyone with an
Internet browser can download customized maps illustrating wells and
intakes, roads, town boundaries, water bodies, and source water
protection areas for any location in Maine.”
“Drinking Water Program Completes GPS Project” By Paul Hunt
http://www.state.me.us/newsletter/Mar99/drinking_water_program_completes.htm
Search terms used:
“water suppliers” GIS GPS
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Easterangel-ga |
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