Source Water Protection
Source Water Protection is about protecting a drinking water system and its customer's health by identifying and managing actual or potential contamination sources that may pose a threat to your drinking water supply. Preventing contamination is much cheaper and easier than cleaning up a contaminated source or finding a new source. The New Mexico Environment Department Drinking Water Bureau (DWB) SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM STAFF can provide technical and planning assistance to community water systems to develop and strengthen Source Water Protection Plans (SWPP).
Source Water Assessments & Protection Plans
Creating a Source Water Protection Plan requires several steps. DWB has already completed the following steps in 2002 - 2005 as part of the SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT Program:
- identifying areas to be protected
- making an inventory of actual and potential contamination sources
- determining how susceptible drinking water source areas are to contamination
A Source Water Assessment Report has been provided to each public water system. Completing the final steps of developing and implementing a SWPP are dependent on your water system and the community it serves, but DWB can assist you with the process. Public Water Systems may request copies of the Source Water Assessment Reports from the DWB.
Source Water Tools & Strategies
Many public water systems in New Mexico have already completed a SWPP. The following links provide useful source water protection tools and can help in implementing a Source Water Protection Plan:
Example of a SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT and SWPP TEMPLATE
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION FLYER with additional SWPP information
ORDINANCES can help protect drinking water sources by specifying permissible land use activities
The ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) SOURCE WATER PROTECTION WEBSITE is an excellent source of information and guidance for Public Water Systems and private well owners, including information on public involvement/education, proper septic maintenance, and links to additional resources.
NEW MEXICO RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION (NMRWA) provides technical assistance and training to Public Water Systems in New Mexico.
For more information, please call Andy Edmondson, the Source Water Protection Coordinator, at 505-476-8631.