Source Water Stewardship and Assessment: Guide
Cities and counties (municipalities) that seek to develop a source water stewardship program with the intent to protect and/or restore drinking water sources should first understand the information contained in their community’s Source Water Assessment (assessment). As part of the Safe Drinking Water Act water systems are required to complete an assessment which identifies a community's drinking water source and potential contaminants.
While assessments contain useful data regarding a locality’s sources of and potential contaminants to water, unfortunately they are often completed by regional- or state-level entities with minimal or no local government involvement. Some local governments are even unaware of their locality’s assessment results. Moreover, many assessments are outdated and may not reflect new developments, especially in areas that recently experienced burgeoning growth.
To understand how to obtain and analyze their locality’s Assessment for accuracy and timeliness, Sustainability Officers can review the Clean Water Fund’s Source Water Stewardship: A Guide to Protecting your Drinking Water. This publication outlines the steps municipalities can follow to examine the assessment, facilitate public participation, and formulate a source water stewardship plan. The Source Water Assessment & Protection Workshop Guide provides presentation tools to assist in educating the public-at-large and elected officials on the origin of their water and its known and potential contaminants. By engaging the various stakeholders in this learning and planning process, a community can better understand the susceptibility of its water supply as well as take steps towards protecting and ensuring clean water for both the present and the future.
Any party with an interest in an initiative.Unwanted elements that may reduce the quality of natural systems (air, water, land).
