Water Quality Protection Policy and Action Plan - Bernalillo County

Water Quality Protection Policy and Action Planwere able to work together for groundwater protection in the early 1990s and are encouraged todo so now (2009).1.2 Mission and GoalsThe 1994 GPPAP established the mission and goals for groundwater protection. For thisWQPPAP, the mission of the GPPAP was adapted to fit both the SPPAP and GPPAP:Ensure the quality of our surface water and groundwater resources so that public health, qualityof life, and economic vitality of this and future generations are not diminished.Although there are some similarities in the threats and protection measures for surface waterand groundwater, there are many more differences between the two. For example, currentsurface water quality issues and their potential to negatively impact the drinking water supplyare not nearly as severe as groundwater quality issues were at the time the GPPAP was beingdeveloped in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when there were many cases of knowngroundwater pollution in the Middle Rio Grande Valley (PCC and GPAC, 1995). By contrast,the quality of surface water is generally excellent and meets almost all federal and staterequirements. Accordingly, while the mission of the GPPAP could be adapted for purposes ofthe WQPPAP, goals and specific policies associated with each goal are tailored to the particularsurface water and groundwater quality issues associated with the WUA water supply, asdetailed in the SPPAP and GPPAP (Sections 2 and 3, respectively). A comparison of thedifferent policies for the two plans is provided in Table 1.2 Section 1