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safeguarding public water supply wells by preventing <br />contaminants from entering the area that contributes water to <br />the well or wellfield over a period of time. Management plans <br />are developed for the wellfield protection area that include <br />inventorying potential sources of ground water contamination, <br />monitoring for the presence of specific contaminants, and <br />managing existing and proposed land and water uses that <br />pose a threat to ground water quality. <br />Ground water is an essential natural resource. It is a source of <br />drinking water for more than half of the U.S. population and <br />more than 95% of the rural population (Browning). In addition, <br />ground water is a support system for sensitive ecosystems, <br />such as wetlands or wildlife habitats. <br />Between 1971 and 1985, there were 245 ground water related <br />outbreaks of disease, resulting in more than 52,000 individuals <br />being affected by associated illnesses (Browning). While most <br />of these diseases were short -tern digestive disorders caused <br />by bacteria and viruses, hazardous chemicals found in wells <br />nationwide also pose risks to public health. <br />The 1986 amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water act <br />require states to implement wellfield protection programs for <br />public water wells. Prevention strategies include maintaining <br />the isolation distances from potential contamination sources, <br />reporting to the state violations of the isolation distance, and <br />asking a local governmental unit to regulate these sources. <br />Cleaning up contaminated ground water can be technically <br />difficult, extremely expensive, and sometimes simply cannot be <br />done. Contaminated ground water also affects the community <br />by discouraging new businesses or residents from locating in <br />that community. <br />Communications Failure <br />As society emerges from industrial production into the age of <br />information, we are seeing new kinds of technological <br />accidents/disasters. Recently, a communications failure <br />occurred that was the worst in 37 years of satellite serve. <br />Some major problems with the telecommunications satellite <br />Galaxy IV drastically affected 120 companies in the paging <br />industry (Rubin, 1998). Radio and other forms of news <br />broadcasts also were affected. The pager failure not only <br />affected personal and business communications, but <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 33 <br />