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presence of a detectable level of tritium in this water. Tritium is a naturally occurring <br />isotope of hydrogen which is mildly radioactive. Since nuclear testing in the atmosphere <br />began in 1953, there has been a detectable increase in the level of tritium. Since <br />hydrogen is incorporated into a water molecule it can be used as an indicate of the age of <br />groundwater. <br /> <br />The significance of having a vulnerable well versus one that is not vulnerable, is that <br />vulnerable wells will require additional measures when implementing a well protection <br />plan. All wells will require a public education program and must have an inventory of <br />wells within the wellhead protection management area. In addition, vulnerable wells <br />would likely need to inventory underground tanks, monitor septic systems, and identify <br />hazardous waste generators within the wellhead protection area. <br /> <br />Drinking Water Supply Management Area <br /> <br />Based upon the groundwater modeling an area known as a wellhead protection area has <br />been defined. This is the extent of the area from which the well will draw water over a <br />ten-year period at its projected pumping rate. The wellhead protection areas for <br />Ramsey's four wells appear as circles around each well as illustrated in figures 1, 2, and 3 <br />which are attached. Beyond the well protection area is a larger area of irregular shapes, <br />which is defined by roads, rivers, and other easily identifiable geographic features. This <br />is the area known as the drinking water supply management area. It is within this area <br />that a management plan must be developed. <br /> <br />Future Activity <br /> <br />At this point the City must request approval of the work done to date, which include the <br />wellhead protection area delineation, the drinking water supply management area <br />delineation and the vulnerability assessment. Following this the City will need to work <br />with the Department of Health in developing a wellhead protection plan to be <br />implemented within the drinking water supply management area. <br /> <br />Action: <br /> <br />None required. <br /> <br />Reviewed by: <br /> <br />Director of Public Works <br />Principal City Engineer <br />Parks/Utilities Supervisor <br /> <br />PW: 04/16/02 <br /> <br />-5- <br /> <br /> <br />