How Does the UIC Program Prevent Contamination of Our Water Supply?
Improper injection has the potential to contaminate our underground sources of drinking water. The UIC Program minimizes this potential by setting minimum requirements for proper injection. These minimum requirements affect the siting, construction, operation, maintenance, monitoring, testing, and finally, the closure of the well. By conducting injection activities according to the requirements of the UIC program, waste fluids are safely transported below all underground sources of drinking water (USDW). The formations receiving the wastes contain native salt waters similiar to, if not saltier than, the oceans. Here the wastes remain permanently.
