What is the water supply protection zone + standards for determining its boundaries

We all cannot help but be concerned about the quality of the tap water that we drink and use for household needs.Cleanliness should be taken care of both at the headworks where water is collected and in the water supply networks.

It is not only the water intake that needs to be protected from contamination; the security zone of the water supply along its entire length must fully fulfill its function. Let's try to figure out what the security zone is and what liability is provided for non-compliance with sanitary standards.

Three zones of sanitary protection zone

For the purpose of environmental protection, a sanitary protection zone (ZSanO) is created around all water supply facilities.

Sanitary protective zoning involves the formation of 3 zones:

• strict regime - No. 1;
• restrictive - No. 2;
• observant - No. 3.

Water intake structures and the place of water intake are strictly protected from accidental or intentional harm. The second restrictive belt is designed to protect the water source from microbial contamination, and the third observation belt is needed to control the level of chemical contamination.

If the first belt can be outlined manually, using a small number of standard figures, then the second and third belts are determined as a result of complex hydrodynamic calculations using a complex methodology.

It is much more convenient to master a computer program AMWELLS, but for now we will consider the general principles of constructing sanitary protection zones in several options.

The water source is located in a strict regime area, followed by zones of restrictions and observations, which have their own rules

#1. For water supply from an open source

Let's say water comes into the water supply from a river - this is an open (or surface) source. The first belt is determined by the location of water intake structures (head elements of the water supply system). To them we add 180-200 meters upstream and 90-100 meters downstream.

The water intake and the adjacent water area are controlled by paramilitary guards; the presence of unauthorized people is prohibited here.

Having decided on the length, let's find out the width of the coastal strip falling into ZSanO. There can be 50 or 200 m with the capture of the opposite bank, which depends on the power of the river itself. Along a large and deep channel with an intense current, no more than 50 m of bank on both sides is isolated.And if the river is small - a total of up to 150 m or more. This includes the width of the two riparian edges and the river itself.

The water intake structure consists of receiving windows, a suction chamber, a pumping station of the 1st lift, a service pavilion housing personnel, and an observation gallery

When drawing water from a large lake or reservoir, when the opposite shore is very far away, 100 m are measured in all directions. It turns out to be something like a circle with such a radius, and some part of it passes through the water. The water boundary of the zone is marked with illuminated buoys and buoys.

The second belt is the territory that immediately follows the first belt and is adjacent to it. It is subject to strict restrictions: factories and industrial production, farmland, construction, and the development of beaches and places of mass suburban recreation are prohibited.

To know where to locate the boundary of the second zone upstream, it is necessary to study the ability of river water to self-purify.

On average, a river processes pollutants that enter it from 3 to 5 days. During this time, the river flow should not have time to carry contaminated water to the water intake point; self-purification should occur earlier. If we translate into kilometres, then including in the second belt 20-35 km of the channel for large and 35-60 km for small rivers above the water intake is quite enough.

And downstream the border will pass at a distance of 250-300 m from the water intake. Here it is necessary to exclude the reverse movement of water against the current due to the wind.

The third zone - it includes cities, towns, villages supplied with water from a given source, the territory needs constant monitoring, but there are no such restrictions as in the first and second.

#2. For water supply from an underground source

In the version with an underground source, a sanitary protection zone is also needed. For shallow ones water wells, opening aquifers of sedimentary deposits, the strict regime zone is outlined with a radius of 50 m, and for deep wells reaching aquifers in bedrock, this figure is half as much - 25 m.

There cannot be any unnecessary structures here, except for the primary pumping station, water tower, and a minimum of ancillary buildings.

Surface and drainage drains must be removed, and the territory itself must be landscaped, landscaped, fenced, while ensuring unhindered access for special vehicles with maintenance teams to eliminate possible sudden problems, planned maintenance and repair of equipment.

The well is closed with a decorative warm house, the adjacent high security area is fenced around the perimeter, landscaped and kept in perfect order

The second zone is determined so that pollution from outside it cannot penetrate underground aquifers and reach water intake within 100 to 400 days - the specific figure is calculated based on the laws of hydrodynamics, taking into account the characteristics of soils and climatic factors.

The third zone is a zone of active human activity. It is assumed that the movement of pollution from this area towards the water intake will be slow and will take longer than the planned life of the well (25-50 years).

Sanitary protection zones are drawn on maps, information about them is published, and the strict security zone is marked with all sorts of warning signs and signs on the ground, surrounded by a continuous fence, a mesh with barbed wire, etc.

#3. For structures and water pipelines outside the water intake

Outside the areas related to water intake from sources, there are strict sanitary protection zones around the following water supply facilities:

• spare tanks, filter stations – 30 m;
• water towers – 10 m;
• pumping units, chlorine and reagent warehouses, settling tanks, etc. – 15 m.

It is necessary to lay sanitary strips along the water pipelines both on the left and on the right. Their width ranges from 10 to 50 m and depends on how high the groundwater rises and the diameter of the water supply pipes.

If the cross-section of the pipe does not exceed 1 m, a strip 10 m wide is sufficient; for a pipe with a diameter of more than 1 m, the strip width is doubled, and for high groundwater - up to 50 m, regardless of the size of the pipe.

When a water pipeline is laid through already built-up areas, a reduction in the area of ​​protective zones is allowed, unless the sanitary and epidemiological service objects.

Specifics of prohibitions within the boundaries of ZSanO

The most stringent requirements are imposed on strict security zones (the first zone). On their territories it is forbidden to erect buildings and structures, dig trenches or otherwise go deep into the ground, store any materials, apply fertilizers, litter, cut down green spaces, graze livestock, go fishing, build moorings for boats, or swim.

Prohibition signs are attached next to the warning sign, indicating what is strictly forbidden to do in the sanitary protection zone

An extensive list of prohibitions has also been compiled for the second security zone. Construction and blasting work, driving piles and other actions that create vibration are prohibited. You cannot dump wastewater, develop the bowels of the earth, cut down forests, place warehouses for pesticides, fertilizers, fuels and lubricants, plow up virgin lands, or drain swamps.

It is not allowed to allocate space for cattle burial grounds, silage and manure pits, livestock and poultry breeding complexes, etc. The use of the protected area for living, active recreation, and sporting events is prohibited. It is prohibited to pull water pipelines through landfills, filtration fields, or near cemeteries.

Subtleties of sewer installation

Accidents in sewer networks are a common occurrence, and this is not only due to the natural wear and tear of pipes and systems. Sewage, like water supply, has a security zone, but it is not customary to mark it with signs and plates. The presence of sewer pipes and their location have to be judged by wells closed with massive metal covers marked “K” or “GK”.

Before starting excavation work in the security sewer zone, it is necessary to study the plans and diagrams of engineering communications, obtain appropriate recommendations and consultations from specialists.

Otherwise, it’s easy to break a sewer pipe with one careless push from an excavator bucket, and who will then count the losses and material costs of restoration? And if there is a water supply nearby, then the damage and negative consequences increase many times over.

The letters “K” or “GK” on the manhole cover indicate sewerage or city sewerage, respectively; “B” should be written on the cover of the water well.

The security zone of sewer networks is established in proportion to the cross-section of the pipe:

• up to 0.6 m in diameter - at least 5 meters in both directions;
• from 0.6 to 1.0 m and more - 10-25 meters.

It is necessary to take into account the seismological characteristics of the area, climate and average monthly temperatures, soil humidity and freezing, and soil features. The presence of unfavorable factors is a reason to increase the security zone.

The distance to sewer networks located underground from the following objects is also regulated:

• the sewer system should be 3-5 meters away from any foundations (for pressure sewer the distance is greater than for gravity);
• the distance from supporting structures, fences, overpasses is from 1.5 m to 3.0 m;
• from the railway track - 3.5-4.0 m;
• from the road curb on the roadway - 2.0 m and 1.5 m (standards for pressure and gravity sewerage);
• from ditches and ditches - 1-1.5 m from the nearest edge;
• street lighting poles, overhead contact lines - 1-1.5 m;
• supports of high-voltage power lines - 2.5-3 m.

The figures are for reference, and accurate engineering calculations allow us to obtain more substantiated data. If the intersection of water and sewer pipes cannot be avoided, the water supply must be placed above the sewer. When this is technically difficult to achieve, a casing is put on the sewer pipes.

The space between it and the working pipe is tightly compacted with soil. On loams and clays the length of the casing is 10 meters, on sand - 20 meters. It is better to cross communications for different purposes at right angles.

You can read more about calculating the slope of sewer pipes in this our article.

In case of a large-scale sewerage breakthrough, it is necessary to turn off the supply of tap water in order, if not to stop, then at least to reduce the release of fecal water to the outside

When opening water and sewer pipes in connection with repairs, the use of equipment in excavation work is permitted to a certain depth. The last meter of earthen layer above the pipe is carefully removed by hand without the use of impact or vibration tools.

When laying sewers, it is strictly forbidden to touch the sanitary areas of water pipelines, but in the city the requirements are less stringent.

In urban conditions, with a forced parallel arrangement of main water and sewer pipes, the following distances must be maintained:

• 10 m for pipes up to 1.0 m in diameter;
• 20 m for pipe diameters greater than 1.0 m;
• 50 m - on wet ground with any pipe diameter.

For thinner domestic sewer pipes, the distance to other underground utilities is determined by its own standards:

• to the water supply system - from 1.5 to 5.0 m, depending on the material and diameter of the pipes;
• to rain drainage systems - 0.4 m;
• to gas mains - from 1.0 to 5 m;
• to cables laid underground – 0.5 m;
• to the heating plant – 1.0 m.

The final word on how to ensure the safe coexistence of water supply and sewerage remains with the specialists of water utility companies. All controversial issues should be resolved during the design process and not come up during the operation stage.

If you do not control household and industrial wastewater, landfills, the amount of chemical fertilizers and poisons in the fields, water supplies will become unusable

List of regulatory documents

The mandatory creation of sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population is provided for by the law “On the sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population” (No. 52FZ, 03/30/99). According to this law, the development of a water source protection system must be added to the water supply operation project and formalized as a separate project.

The design of the ZSANO is based on SanPiN with code 2.1.4.1110-02 . This regulatory document determines how to calculate sanitary protection zones and describes the requirements for them from the perspective of sanitation and epidemiology. Ignoring the rules and regulations prescribed in SanPiN 2.1.4.1110-02, is fraught with a high probability of outbreaks of serious infectious diseases, mass poisonings, and epidemics.

Documents with abbreviations will also be useful SNiP: 40-03-99 (new version 2.04.03-85), 2.07.01-89*, 2.07.01-89*, 2.05.06-85*, 3.05.04-85*, 2.04.02-84 (section 10 - Sanitary protection zones ). In the building codes and regulations with the specified codes you can find the necessary information on the design of water supply and sewerage networks, on the development of populated areas, and on main pipelines.

The standard water pipe laying depth is at least 0.5 m from the top level of the pipe, excluding soil freezing in winter. To the left and right of the trench there is an allotment of land for a sanitary security strip 10-20 m wide

Regulatory materials are the basis for developing standards taking into account the local characteristics of a particular region. City and rural administrative authorities are responsible for approving and adjusting norms for Sanitary and Sanitary Safety Inspections.

Responsibility for non-compliance with security rules

Protected zones are a kind of guarantee of water purity and protection from pollution. All business entities and individuals are required to comply with the rules in force in these zones.The following sanctions are provided for violation:

• compensation for damage – the culprit must compensate for the damage caused by unauthorized construction, storage and storage of materials, accumulation of garbage and waste closer than 5 m from the water supply;
• administrative measures, i.e. fines - for neglect of building codes, rules, for the construction of buildings and any other construction without a pre-approved project;
• criminal liability for self-seizure of land plots in sanitary protection zones.

It is stupid to claim as an excuse that you did not know about the location of the security zones - this does not exempt you from responsibility.

Before carrying out any construction, land or other work, you should contact the water utility and find out where the security zones are located in your locality and surrounding area, and what actions cannot be carried out in the selected location. This is the only way to avoid unpleasant and unexpected consequences.

It is not always possible to catch those who throw out garbage in the water protection zone in flagrante delicto, and all that remains is to appeal to the conscience and awareness of all citizens

Since the first belt of the ZSanO must be marked with warning signs, in the event of their absence, responsibility for order in the security zone falls on the operating organization, and there is no reason to make claims against those who accidentally enter the forbidden territory.

But if there are warnings, the violator will not be able to absolve himself of guilt for illegally entering the sanitary zone and carrying out any actions there.

Land swindlers who arbitrarily seize plots for construction in the sanitary protection zone can only be fought by tightening penalties and moving from administrative to criminal liability.

The legislation of the Russian Federation determines the degree of responsibility and punishment for those who violate sanitary standards and requirements. You can read about this in the Code of the Russian Federation “On Administrative Violations” (No. 195FZ, December 30, 2001). In particular, Article 8.13 concerns water bodies and their protection.

An ordinary person can be fined from 500 to 1 thousand rubles for violations in sanitary protection zones of water pipelines and water intakes; an official can be fined 1-2 thousand rubles. Fines for legal entities range from 10 to 20 thousand rubles.

If damage is caused to the sanitary protection zone of a reservoir, lake, river involved in water supply, then the fines are higher - 1-2 thousand rubles, 3-4 thousand rubles and 30-40 thousand rubles, respectively. Compliance with the norms and rules under the legislation of the Russian Federation is strictly checked.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

What does a high security sanitary protection zone look like:

How does the program work for calculating sanitary protection zones of underground water intakes:

Let's summarize... Security zones are an important condition in creating water supply systems. And they must fully fulfill their functional purpose if we want clean water to flow from our taps.

When filtration stations on water supply systems cannot cope with the level of pollution, chlorine, which is harmful to health, is added to the water for disinfection. Isn’t it better to remember about the environment and not disturb order in sanitary protection zones?

Do you want to ask a question about the topic of the article? Please leave your comments in the block below.Here you can express your opinion or report interesting facts about sanitary protection zones.