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Are you within a Vulnerable Area?

Use this mapping to find your address. If you're property is within a shaded area, you are within a vulnerable area to drinking water.

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Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA)

A Wellhead Protection Area is the area surrounding a well, through which contaminants will move toward or reach the well. These models calculate the time it takes for water to
travel through the aquifer to the well.

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The WHPA zones around each well are set at the time of travel it would take for a contaminate to reach the well.

  • WHPA A is a 100 metre circle around the well. The most vulnerable area.

  • WHPA B is is set at 2 years

  • WHPA C is set at 5 years

  • WHPA D is set at 25 years

  • WHPA E is an additional zone for GUDI systems meaning direct influence of surface water

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With each WHPA zone, the vulnerability score is then associated. The scores are on a 10 point scale,
with 10 being the highest level of vulnerability. This score
tells us where increased protection from threats is
needed.

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Intake Protection Zones

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Intake Protection Zones are vulnerable areas around drinking water intakes on rivers or lakes. Surface water intakes can be contaminated when pollutants are spilled into the water or on nearby land and make their way to the intake. 

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IPZs are mapped areas where pollutants may get into an intake too quickly for operators of the municipal water treatment plan to shut down the intake before the pollutant reaches it.

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IPZs were drawn around each intake:

  • IPZ 1- is a 1km circle or semi circle around the intake. This is the most vulnerable since it is very close to the intake.

  • IPZ 2- is determined by the amount of time it would take for a contaminant to reach the intake.

  • IPZ 3- is developed for some intakes.

  • Event Based Areas are areas where under extreme events (ex. heavy rain) contaminants may reach the intake.

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The Vulnerability score scores can range from 4 to 9 out of 10. 10 being the most vulnerable.

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Highly Vulnerable Aquifers

Significant Ground Recharge Areas

A highly vulnerable aquifer (HVA) has a relatively fast path for water to travel from the ground’s surface down to the
aquifer.

 

Generally, the faster the water is able to flow through the ground to an aquifer, the more vulnerable the area is to contamination.

 

These aquifers typically occur in areas of coarse or sandy soils with a high groundwater table. All HVAs have a vulnerability score of 6 out of 10.

In a significant groundwater recharge area (SGRA), a
relatively large volume of water makes its way from the
ground’s surface down to the aquifer.

 

It is important to protect this recharge capacity because it has an effect on both the quality and the quantity of water.
 

SGRAs are often areas of coarse or sandy soils.

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