Chemical Data Sets for Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP)

Under this project, chemical occurrence databases and datasets that can be employed by states and utilities to perform Source Water Assessment Programs (SWAPs) were identified, listed, and characterized. SWAPS are a part of Section 1453 of the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act requiring all states to establish SWAPs. Each SWAP includes the submission to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of a detailed plan to delineate source water assessment areas, inventory significant contaminants in these areas, and determine the susceptibility of each public water supply to contamination.

The collection of chemical occurrence data is one tool which can help determine potential contaminants and perform susceptibility analyses. Data sources queried to accomplish this task include national databases, and datasets available through regional and state agencies and utilities. These datasets were inventoried and reviewed based on a variety of descriptors (metadata), including the following:

	regions, watersheds, waterbodies, or aquifers
	data description
	sampling methods
	location or description of sampling points
	chemicals addressed
	analytical methods and associated detection limits
	time frame
	program title, objectives, and contact information
	quality assurance/quality control procedures for sample collection and analysis
	overall assessment of the quality of the data

AwwaRF will publish the report for this project by early 2003.

For additional information about this project, please contact Jose Sobrinho at jose.sobrinho@psgs.com. For technical assistance in using this website, please contact Erica Rosen at erica.rosen@psgs.com.

Photo of a river winding through a valley (EPA)