Registration and Continental Breakfast

Welcome and Introduction
Sara Pearson , Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

Keynote Speaker:   Cary McElhinney , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Collaborative Approaches for Source Water Protection to Support Climate Resiliency

Protecting sources of drinking water requires a wide cross-section of partners that are engaged in the assessment and protection process.  US EPA supports state and local source water collaboratives by developing tools, providing technical assistance and fostering voluntary partnerships and approaches that can prevent contamination and overuse of sources of drinking water.  The impacts of climate change bring an additional challenge to ensuring safe and sustainable water resources for communities.  New technical and financial resources are available to increase resiliency and enable local solutions to protect drinking water sources.  

EGLE Update
Eric Oswald , Director, Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division, EGLE

Eric Oswald, Director of EGLE's Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division will provide the Division's perspective on the importance of Source Water Protection Programs in the midst of drinking water challenges, and discuss the link between source water protection and emerging contaminants.

Source Water Protection: Update and Future Directions
Jason Berndt , EGLE

This session will provide an overview of Michigan's Source Water Protection Program, including such elements as grants, approved communities, and goals.

Panelists:   Jean Talanda , City of Kalamazoo;  Don Petrovich , Plainfield Charter Townhp;   Jeff Dietlin , City of Cadillac 

Planning for Sustainable Community Water Sources
James Brode, CPG , Fleis and Vandenbrink Engineering

Securing future water sources is vital to the future of Michigan communities, yet finding new water sources is becoming increasingly more difficult.  Many factors need to be considered with developing sustainable water sources. This presentation will discuss these factors along with other aspects of finding and developing new water sources. 

EPA WaterSense Program and Water Efficiency Resources for Protecting Water Supplies
Cary McElhinney , EPA

WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is both a label for water-efficient products and a resource for helping you save water. The WaterSense label makes it simple to find water-efficient products, new homes, and programs that meet EPA’s criteria for efficiency and performance. WaterSense partners with manufacturers, retailers and distributors, homebuilders, irrigation professionals, and utilities to bring WaterSense to your community. We'll discuss partner resources, upcoming campaigns, and ways other partners are using the program, so you can make the most of your WaterSense partnership.

Developing, Updating and Implementing Source Water Protection Plans and Financing Options
Kelly Hon , MIchigan Rural Water Association

Source Water protection programs are meant to be living documents.  If your WHP program has been in place for some time and you feel that you have lost momentum, please attend this session.  Presenters will review the process of updating older programs and share ideas for keeping your program dynamic and relevant.

Hydrogeologic Analysis/Delineating Your Wellhead Protection Areas
Travis Bauer , EGLE

Attendees will learn about Wellhead Protection Areas, methods of delineation, and EGLE's expectations for delineation submittals.

Break

Groundwater Surveying in MIchigan's Capital Region
Garry Rowe , Inham County Board of Health; Lauren Schnoebelen, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission

From 1983 to 1988 a comprehensive survey of groundwater/drinking water was completed for Ingham, Eaton and parts of Clinton County.  These three counties were part of a 14 county groundwater survey in southern Michigan.  Many important discoveries were made from this project which led to several environmental investigations, groundwater resource management programs and public health initiatives.   In 2016 several groups, businesses, agencies, and individuals decided it was time to start a follow-up to this first survey to determine what changes may have occurred with our primary drinking water resource.  

The project has now included several more agencies and groups that are moving the project forward.  Already the new data has displayed valuable information for proposing new policies and programs to protect this vital natural resource and protect public health.

Innovative Ways to Reach Your Audience: Education and Outreach Ideas for Communities
Kelly Hon , MIchigan Rural Water Association

Are you looking for new outreach and education ideas to inspire your local program?  This session will highlight creative ideas that have been implemented by communities in their information and education campaigns

Break

Low-level Detections of Contaminants and Implications for Source Water Management 
James Brode, CPG , Fleis and Vandenbrink Engineering; Kevin Lund, PE, CPG, The Mannik and Smith Group

This presentation examines the implications of low level contaminants on source water management, how we assess and communicate their risks along with potential strategies to address them.

New Groundwater Resource Tool
John Esch and  Sara Pearson , EGLE

The State of Michigan has various programs that involve the collection of geologic and groundwater information. The data collected is held in various formats in a multitude of databases and file systems that are useful for making decisions regarding resource management and development, assessing risks from contaminants released to the environment, and protecting public health. Making decisions regarding these topics and others efficiently and in a timely manner requires access to this data in usable formats. Because of this need, EGLE has initiated a project to develop a groundwater data warehouse that will allow for electronic access to this data both for all potential users of this information including public and private entities and citizens. This presentation will feature a demonstration of a Groundwater Web Application that will show the data available from this type of system and how it can be used for evaluating aquifers for potential vulnerabilities, capacity development, and more. 

Break

Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool Process and Status Update
Andy LeBaron , EGLE

The Great Lakes Compact requires water resource management and conservation policies for all large water uses. The Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool is a key part of Michigan’s strategy to implement the Compact and to protect our water resources.  This presentation will show the basics of how it works and how it’s used in Safe Drinking Water Act permit decisions for community water supplies.

Muskegon Norton Shores PFAS Alternate Water Project
Montana Krukowski , EGLE

This session will discuss source water contamination and it’s profound impacts on drinking water statewide, but more importantly, the positive collaborative actions we can take to remedy those situations.

Break

Financing Rural Water and Wastewater Systems
Valarie Handy , U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA Rural Development has over 40 different loan and grant programs that can support a variety of projects that build rural communities from the underground, up. This presentation will focus on the Water & Environmental Programs (WEP) and discuss how funds can be utilized by communities (with a population of 10,000 or less) protect water quality. 
 

MIEHDWIS - Development and Implementation for Grant Applications
Jason Berndt , EGLE

Welcome - Day 1 Recap
Ruth Kline-Robach , MSU, Community Sustainability and Institute of Water Research

Emerging Contaminants - USMR, Cyanotoxins, and PFAS
Ian Smith , EGLE

This presentation will provide a summary of EGLE’s recent efforts to assess emerging contaminants in Michigan, focusing on cyanotoxin monitoring during the harmful algal bloom (HAB) season, PFAS monitoring od surface water intakes, the upcoming UCMR 5 sampling, and ongoing PFAS compliance monitoring efforts under Michigan’s Safe Drinking Water Act. Materials covered will include methodology, sampling results, and future sampling plans.

Groundwater Under Direct Influence of Surface Water Evaluation: A Michigan Demonstration
Mark Sweatman , Wood, PLC

The EPA introduced concept of groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GWUDI) over 30 years ago.  The concept of GWUDI is that certain groundwater sources that receive significant recharge from surface water bodies may be at risk for contamination by Giardia and Cryptosporidium. This presentation will provide an overview of the Surface Water Treatment Rule as it pertains to GWUDI, procedures and methods employed to make a GWUDI determination.  A year’s long study, completed in a large capacity well field, will be used to inform attendees of the findings and conclusion of the study as well as providing information pertaining to the magnitude of an affirmative conclusion for groundwater purveyors regarding GWUDI.

Forests to MI Faucets Project
Doug McLaughlin , Kalamazoo River Watershed Council

This presentation will provide an overview of the new Forests to MI Faucets project lead by the Forest Stewardship Program of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. With a dozen conservation partners in Michigan, the project is intended to help educate woodland owners and the public about the connections between forests and drinking water. Information on activities underway and planned within the Kalamazoo River watershed also will be discussed.

Break

Geothermal Wells: Technical Guidance 
David DeYoung , EGLE

This presentation will provide an overview of open and closed-loop geothermal systems typically installed in Michigan.  Attendees will also learn about the status of Statewide regulations and best practices related to these geothermal installations.

Land use, Geology, and Well Construction Affect Rural Groundwater Quality
Joel Stokdyk , U.S. Geological Survey

Private well water was tested for nitrate, pathogens, and fecalborne microbes. High nitrate in water was associated with agricultural land use, and human wastewater contamination was associated with septic systems. Geology and well construction were also important. Results inform source water protection efforts, like determining setback distances from contaminant sources or identifying vulnerable areas.

Break

Microplastics: Source Reduction and Fundamental Rethinking
Mala C. Hettiarachchi, Ph.D. , Environmental Resources Group

Microplastics, plastic particles ranging in the size from 1 micrometer (µm) to 5 millimeters (mm), are abundant in aquatic, atmospheric, and terrestrial environments.  Even though the risk of microplastics to human health is under evaluation, recent peer reviewed literature demonstrates the detection of microplastics in human blood and lung tissues. Microplastics enter human bodies via ingestion or inhalation. Atmospheric microplastics could enter the aquatic environment via various transport mechanisms. Therefore, source reduction and fundamental rethinking of the material usage and management is essential in protecting the source water.    

This presentation will discuss major sources of microplastics to the environment including the sources that are overlooked in working toward protecting source water. Also, this discussion will emphasize the use of the public engagement as a tool in protecting source water.  

Health risks of waterborne pathogens in public water supply wells from Minnesota
Tucker Burch, Ph.D. , U.S. Department of Agriculture

Occurrence and health risks of multiple waterborne pathogens in source water for public supply wells across the state of Minnesota. Informative for other states in the Upper Great Lakes region.

Break

Funding and Financing Through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
Lance Wood , EGLE

This session will discuss the various funding and financing options available to municipalities and water suppliers through the State Revolving Fund Program. Eligible projects and applicants will be presented along with the process for applying to be considered for the various funds available through the DWSRF program.

Tapping into the Urban Water Cycle for Public Education
Hillary Caron , City of Grand Rapids Water System

We will explore how community supplies can utilize the urban water cycle as a framework to connect and educate their community. Participants will come away with ideas and resources to help inform and empower residents to take action and protect their source of drinking water!

Lunch

Community Education and Engagement with the Office of the Clean Water Public Advocate
Kris Donaldson , Clean Water Public Advocate, EGLE

Attend this plenary session to learn about EGLE's Office of the Clean Water Public Advocate (established in 2019), education and outreach efforts, drinking water concern response, and other initiatives to support the continued improvement of drinking water quality, response, and policy.  

Closing Remarks - Adjourn

Sara Pearson , EGLE;  Kelly Hon , MRWA