Learn More About Source Water Protection

Clean drinking water is essential for everyone, and you can help protect it by protecting your source water.

Whether your water comes from surface water (lakes, rivers, or streams) or groundwater (aquifers), all drinking water sources are vulnerable to contaminants from a variety of activities. The origin of contaminants might be in your neighborhood or many miles away. When rain falls, it picks up and carries away pollutants, depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coasts, and even underground sources of drinking water.

Preventing pollution is critical to protecting drinking water from contamination and reducing the need for costly treatment. Community involvement and individual action are key to providing a safe supply of drinking water.