If contaminants are dumped or spilled in a Wellhead Protection Area, they can contaminate the aquifer and the drinking water from our wells. Cleaning contaminated source water is very difficult, if not impossible, and is an expensive and lengthy process to complete. It is safer and more cost-effective to prevent aquifer contamination than clean it up after it occurs.
Kennewick has completed an inventory of land use within our Wellhead Protection Areas and has identified potential contaminant sources within one year's time of travel from our drinking water wells. Businesses identified in this inventory have been notified by mail that they are in a critical water supply area. Kennewick is actively taking steps to control risks of contamination and part of that is through raising community awareness.