Water Quality Protection Policy and Action Plan - Bernalillo County

Water Quality Protection Policy and Action Plan• Cleanup of most known cases of groundwater pollution, including removal and/orremediation of 325 leaking underground storage tanks and identification and remediationof several Superfund Sites.• Improved understanding of groundwater resources (through extensive monitoring),allowing for detection of contaminated sites and documentation of cleanup efforts.Areas for improvement and new concerns include:• Need for increased communication and coordination with local, state and federalregulators to enhance enforcement and compliance with local, state, and federalenvironmental regulations.• New potential groundwater pollution sources.• Need for planning on a regional and watershed level.• Funding for contamination cleanup, extension of sewer service (to reduce septic tankuse), and other activities.Based on the GPPAP review, the following modified groundwater protection policies shall beimplemented:• Policy A: The City, County, and WUA shall prohibit or control the releases ofsubstances having the potential to degrade groundwater quality.• Policy B: The City, County, and WUA shall identify groundwater contamination andexpedite corrective action.• Policy C: The City, County, and WUA shall promote the vigorous enforcement of lawsand regulations related to groundwater protection throughout the Upper Rio Grandedrainage basin planning area.• Policy D: The City, County, and WUA shall identify and recognize compliance byindustry, business, government, and community organizations.• Policy E: The City, County, and WUA shall participate in comprehensive waterresource management planning on a watershed scale to encourage watershed andwater quality protection.• Policy F: The City, County, and WUA shall encourage, facilitate, and acknowledgepublic participation.Executive SummaryES-5