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PURPOSE <br /> The purpose of the water supply protection program is to <br /> provide an opportunity for communities to work together with the <br /> state in providing enhanced protection for their water supply <br /> from pollution sources. If local governments develop a watershed <br /> management program that controls pollutants from nonpoint sources <br /> in their particular watershed , the state will control the number <br /> and type of point sources allowed in the watershed. Combining <br /> the efforts of these governing bodies should provide and maintain <br /> a desirable level of watershed protection. <br /> WS CLASSIFICATION <br /> New water supply classifications became effective February <br /> 1 , 1986 and have three classes (WS-I , WS-II and WS-III ) . These <br /> classes are defined according to the amount and types of permit- <br /> ted point source discharges as well as a requirement to control <br /> nonpoint sources of pollution. Class WS-I watersheds must have no <br /> point source discharges. Domestic-discharges ( including schools <br /> and individual homes) and approved non-process (cooling) water- - <br /> discharges are allowed in Class WS-II watersheds. In addition, _ <br /> WS-I and WS-lI watersheds must have local land use management - <br /> programs to protect water supplies from nonpoint sources <br /> pollution. All nonpoint source control programs must be approved <br /> by the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) as part of <br /> public proceedings to reclassify the water body. <br /> Class WS-III waters are stream segments with no categorical <br /> restrictions on point source discharges in the watersheds. Local <br /> nonpoint source control programs are not required; however , in <br /> reclassification proceedings for WS-III waters, a detailed <br /> evaluation- of point sources including toxic substances is <br /> conducted. While not required, the implementation of a nonpoint <br /> source control program for portions of the watershed, particular-_ <br /> ly near the water supply intake or in rapidly developing areas, <br /> is highly recommended. <br /> • INITIAL CHANGES <br /> All waters previously classified as A-I became Class WS-I <br /> when the water supply classes were revised. At present, these <br /> waters are considered to have a nonpoint source management <br /> program which requires the watershed to remain undisturbed and _ <br /> uninhabited (since that was the requirement for Class A-I <br /> waters) . All other waters previously classified as A-II became <br /> Class WS-III . Many of these waters may qualify for either the <br /> WS-I or WS-II classification. Reclassification of WS-III waters <br /> to a more protective class is initiated on the request of a local <br /> water authority followed by a detailed watershed evaluation by <br /> DEM and the development of a watershed protection program by <br /> local government . Once the official resolution is received from <br /> the local governing body, any new application for a NPDES permit <br /> (point source discharge) in a proposed WE-I or WS-II watershed <br /> will be closely evaluated and may not be acted on until the <br />