Harwich Water Department Water Quality

Source Water Assessment Program

Protecting Source Water
Massachusetts has over 1,600 public water systems that provide drinking water to homes, schools, businesses, and industries. Over 90 percent of the state's population depends on public water supply sources which are often vulnerable to contamination. More than 70 communities have shut down at least one source because it was contaminated. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has had a water supply protection program since 1980. New federal requirements will help DEP focus its resources on improving protection statewide. As a result, local water suppliers and municipal officials will receive more hydrogeological and planning assistance from DEP for improved protection of local drinking water sources.

Incorporating New Requirements
The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 emphasize the importance of protecting public drinking water. The law requires every state to examine existing and potential threats to the quality of all its public water supply sources and to develop a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) during the next two years. DEP's SWAP process will:

1. delineate protection areas for all public ground and surface water sources;
2. inventory land uses in these areas that may present potential threats to water quality;
3. determine the susceptibility of water, supplies to contamination from these sources;
4. publicize the results.

Source Water Assessments will help local and state officials target inspections and technical assistance where they are needed the most, encourage cooperative emergency response, and contribute to comprehensive protection of all public water sources.

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