Well Surveillance

Recognizing the number of contaminated facilities and the threat to drinking water, the Florida Department of Health was given the public health responsibility of identifying and sampling drinking water wells around contaminated sites.

The Well Surveillance Program is a combination of the following three sub-programs:

1. Drinking Water Toxics
2. Dry Cleaning Solvent Surveillance
3. State Underground Petroleum Environmental Response Act (SUPER Act)

The Florida Legislature enacted the SUPER Act (Chapter 376.3071, Florida Statutes) in response to ground water contamination resulting from leaking underground petroleum storage tanks. Locally our program conducts well surveillance in potentially impacted areas, notifies the public of potential adverse health effects and provides assistance in obtaining alternative sources of drinking water.

The St. Johns Water Management District has delegated authority to the Volusia County Health Department to implement and administer the program for regulation of water well construction standards for all wells in Volusia County unless these wells are within Chapter 62-524, F.A.C., delineated areas or wells having a casing diameter 6” or greater. An application for all domestic (private) , irrigation, monitoring, Florida Safe Drinking Water Act/public supply, and Limited use Public wells require a permit issued by the Volusia County Health Department prior to installation or abandonment. The Well Permitting Packet includes the required forms for that application. They must be completed in their entirety and submitted to the office located nearest to the proposed installation address.

In 1988, the Florida Legislature directed the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to implement the Delineated Areas Program for potable water well construction and water testing standards within areas of known ground water contamination under Chapter 62-524, F.A.C. This action was taken to protect public health and ground water resources, and to promote the cost-effective remediation of contaminated potable water supplies. The rule provides guidelines for the construction of new drinking water wells in areas of delineated ground water contamination.

Implementation of the delineation rule has been a cooperative effort among the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Health, and the water management districts. After the Department of Environmental Protection delineates areas of ground water contamination, the water management districts implement stricter well-construction standards through permitting requirements. Each permit application for a new well is reviewed to determine the well’s location relative to delineated areas. If the well is located in a delineated area, the water management district will either require more rigorous well construction standards or connection to a public water system. Permitting for a well within the delineated area is through the water management district. The Department of Health is then responsible for the collection and testing of water samples after a well is drilled.

Within Volusia County there are two areas of delineation. DeLand Golf Course and Sherwood Chemical and Daytona Park Estates.