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Source Water Protection (SWP)

Common Considerations

Source Water Protection, Potential Sources of Contamination, NutrientsBasic considerations for source water protection include both water quality and water availability. More detailed information on potential sources of contamination within a drinking water utility's delineated source water protection area can be found in a source water assessment.

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Water Quality

The quality of source water used by a drinking water treatment plant has a direct impact on its operations. It can be impacted by the local geology, topography, land use, and activities within and outside the watershed or wellhead capture zone.

Types of Pollution

Water pollution is often described as originating from a "point" or "nonpoint" source.  Point source pollution can be traced to a specific location, like a pipe that is releasing treated wastewater to a river. Nonpoint source pollution generally is described as pollution from large, nonspecific sources - for example, land runoff, rain, snow, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage or hydrologic modification. Common types of nonpoint source pollution are runoff of fertilizer and pesticides from agricultural land or residential areas, and sediment from eroding streambanks.

States report that nonpoint source pollution is the leading remaining cause of water quality problems. The effects of nonpoint source pollutants on specific waters vary and may not always be fully understood assessed. However, these pollutants have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries and wildlife.

Learn more about pollution management of point and nonpoint sources, such as:

Contaminants That Can Affect Drinking Water

The following contaminants can affect drinking water treatment plant operations or human health. While all contaminants can pose a challenge to drinking water utilities, the following contaminants present common and complex challenges.

Nutrients

Nitrate is a necessary nutrient for plant and animal growth. However, elevated levels of nitrate and other nutrients may lead to harmful algal blooms and other ecological degradation.  High levels of nitrate are also harmful to human health.  EPA has a national primary drinking water regulation for nitrate with a maximum contamination level (MCL) of 10 mg/L (as nitrate-N) for most public water systems. Sources of elevated nitrate in surface and groundwaters include fertilizer runoff, leaking septic tanks, damaged sewage lines, cross-connections, industrial discharges, and atmospheric deposition. Drinking water treatment for high levels of nitrate in source water can be complex and costly. In source waters where harmful algal blooms are present, drinking water utilities may also consider monitoring and treating for cyano-toxins.

Pathogens

Pathogens are microorganisms that can cause illness. Pathogens in surface and groundwaters may come from animal waste (including from wildlife, livestock, and pets), malfunctioning or poorly sited septic tanks, damaged sewage lines or cross-connections, and combined sewage overflow events.

Suspended Sediment/Turbidity

Suspended sediment and turbidity are measures of water clarity or how many solids are in the water. High turbidity can also be an indicator of high total organic carbon (TOC). This material must be settled out or filtered during the drinking water treatment process. High turbidity events can overwhelm a treatment plant's capacity to filter the water and result in the treatment plant choosing to temporarily shut-off an intake in order to protect their operations. Additionally, TOC can react with certain disinfection chemicals and cause harmful disinfection by-products.

Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)and cyanotoxins may be found in surface water or groundwater. Many of these contaminants are not regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act. However, they are considered when developing the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL)a list of unregulated contaminants known or anticipated to occur in public water systems. CECs have a variety of sources including industrial discharge, wastewater discharge, runoff, and atmospheric deposition and EPA continues to work to understand the potential health impacts.

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Water Availability

Water availability is also vital for the reliable delivery of safe drinking water. Droughts, floods, over pumping of aquifers, river diversions, or other management practices can affect the availability of drinking water sources. Changes in water availability can also impact water quality. 

Resources for Assessing and Addressing Water Availability

For Utilities

Water Availability Data