A GIS Based, Pilot Scale, Wellhead Protection Project for Southern New Mexico

by Z. Samani, New Mexico State Univ, Las Cruces, United States,
J. A. Garcia, New Mexico State Univ, Las Cruces, United States,
D. Hartell, New Mexico State Univ, Las Cruces, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Management of Irrigation and Drainage Systems: Integrated Perspectives

Abstract:

The 1986 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) mandated that each state develop a wellhead protection program. Wellhead protection (WHP) means the protection of groundwater contamination in a specified area surrounding public water supply (PWS) wells. Municipalities should take an active role in implementation of a local WHP program which will provide information on wellhead vulnerability to sources of contamination. The City of Las Cruces, in conjunction with New Mexico State University, has begun a WHP project to be used for vulnerability assessments, groundwater quality protection, and overall aquifer planning. The project includes delineation and mapping of potential sources of contamination, groundwater modeling to delineate zones of contribution (ZOC) and risk assessment, and incorporation of derived spatial and relational information into a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment.

Subject Headings: Geographic information systems | Water pollution | Water quality | Groundwater pollution | Water supply systems | Information systems | Water supply | New Mexico | United States

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