Source water refers to sources of water (such as rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater) that provide water to public drinking water supplies and private wells.
Protecting source water can reduce risks by preventing exposures to contaminated water. Drinking water utilities that meet the definition of a public water system are responsible for meeting the requirements of EPA and state drinking water programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Protecting source water from contamination helps reduce treatment costs and may avoid or defer the need for complex treatment.
There are many additional benefits associated with source water protection, such as protecting water quality for wildlife and recreational use, and protecting the availability and quantity of water supplies.
Source water protection includes a wide variety of actions and activities aimed at safeguarding, maintaining, or improving the quality and/or quantity 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:
Many communities have formed organizations or groups that plan and implement source water protection. Some examples are:
EPA works with states, tribes, local utilities, and many other stakeholders to implement programs that maintain drinking water quality. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is designed to protect drinking water quality through the “multi-barrier approach” that considers all threats (natural and human-made) and establishes barriers to either eliminate or minimize their impacts. The following steps are an important part of the multi-barrier approach:
EPA recognizes that the multi-barrier approach and partnerships are essential to protect drinking water, public health, and economic productivity. SDWA also required states and utilities to assess their source water, and there are a number of Clean Water Act (CWA) provisions designed for protecting water from contamination. However, there is no federal mandate requiring comprehensive source water protection.
The Source Water Protection (SWP) program strives to protect sources of drinking water by developing tools and supporting voluntary partnerships and approaches that can prevent contamination of sources of drinking water. The SWP program is primarily voluntary for state and local governments and other stakeholders; with help from a wide array of partners, EPA has made considerable strides. While a substantial progress has been made, much work remains to be done, and there are numerous opportunities to leverage EPA’s programs and partnerships with external organizations.
States may choose to fund source water protection through optional set-asides from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund capitalization grant distributed by EPA. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund can also be used to support certain source water protection activities.
The Underground Injection Control program protects underground sources of drinking water from endangerment by setting minimum requirements for injection wells.
The Sole Source Aquifer program enables EPA to designate an aquifer as a sole source of drinking water and establish a review area. EPA reviews proposed projects that are located within the review area and receive federal financial assistance.
