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May 7, 2004
The Fairfax County Health Department has initiated a countywide
project to precisely locate and map all private drinking water
wells in the county using Global Positioning System (GPS)
technology.
Collected data will be used to create a Geographic Information
System (GIS) database which will allow the Health Department to
quickly and precisely identify groundwater wells that could be
impacted by future road improvements, construction activities,
sewer system installations, contamination incidents such as spills,
and other situations that may impact groundwater sources.
Currently underway, the field work to collect data is progressing
in time stages and in various zones throughout the county. The
Health Department has been sending letters to residents in affected
neighborhoods two weeks before well-mapping occurs in a particular
neighborhood. Approximately 13,000 letters will be sent during the
project, which is scheduled for completion in October. A map of the
initial four zones and timelinesis located on the Well Mapping site. Additional zones
will be added as the project progresses.
“Ultimately, this GIS-enhanced ability will help the Health
Department provide improved service and protect more than 50,000
county residents who derive their drinking water from a private
well,” said Dennis Hill, director of Environmental Health.
Well mappers work in a manner similar to an electric company meter
reader, moving rapidly from property to property. Mappers visit
each property identified as having a private well, and spend about
90 seconds electronically collecting the precise GPS coordinates
for the well. The well heads are not opened or impacted during the
process. Well mappers are carrying credentials and are clearly
identified. In addition, the Fairfax County Police Department has
been advised of this project and of the presence of well mappers in
county neighborhoods.
The Health Department has contracted the services of Michael
Baker, Jr., Inc., (Baker) to complete the countywide field data
collection effort. Baker has been a national leader in the GIS\GPS
field for over 20 years.
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