Contamination of our water supply poses possible health, water quality, and financial risks to our water system. Source water protection is one of the most effective and efficient ways to protect drinking water quality.
Source water protection includes a wide variety of actions and activities aimed at safeguarding, maintaining, or improving the quality of sources of drinking water and their contributing areas. These activities may depend on the type of source being protected (e.g., groundwater, reservoir, or river). Some examples of source water protection are:
- Riparian zone restoration to reduce runoff pollution;
- Stream bank stabilization to reduce sedimentation;
- Best management practices for agricultural and forestry activities or
- stormwater control;
- Local ordinances to identify activities with potential to release contaminants
- in source water or wellhead protection areas;
- Developing emergency response plans; and
Educating local industry, businesses, and citizens on pollution prevention and source water protection. (see USEPA)