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Quick Start Action List, continued from Source Water Stewardship - Introduction
Track down your local Source Water Assessment.
The assessment may be produced by other entities, but the suggested state contact can explain whom you need to get in touch with. For more on what a Source Water Assessment is, how to find your assessment, and advice on what to do if you don't yet have an assessment, see
Chapter 1.
Read the assessment and investigate how it matches what you know.
Some Source Water Assessments are "first cuts;" citizens have an important role to play in determining if the assessments match what they know. As you read your Source Water Assessment, ask yourself how closely it matches reality. Are known or potential pollution sources missing? Are the locations accurate? Do you know of water quality monitoring data not considered? Are protection measures already in place for some of the sources? See Chapter 2 for questions to ask as you read the assessment and action ideas for follow-up.
Discuss the assessment with the responsible agency.
Now that you've explored your Source Water Assessment, it's a good idea to check in with the agency responsible for implementing it. Bring any questions from your read-through of the assessment. Most importantly, ask the agency if they have or will implement any restoration or protection activities as a result of the assessment's findings. For more ideas about questions to ask the agency and how to discuss next steps, see Chapter 3. Chapter 3 also includes a brief summary of the source water protection responsibilities of different levels of government and agencies.
Talk with others in your community about what you've discovered.
If you haven 't already reached out to others in your community, now is the time! Consider sharing your findings with others concerned with drinking water quality — health care providers, consumer advocates, watershed groups, land trusts, conservationists, and others. Protecting and restoring your drinking water source is a big job, so the more allies you can find, the better. For ideas on who to reach out to and how to share your findings, see
Chapter 4.
Talk with local elected officials and your drinking water provider.
Two other important potential allies deserve special consideration — local elected officials and your drinking water provider. Both should care deeply about the quality of local drinking water, but special attention may be required to get them on board. See Chapter 5 for a discussion of strategies for connecting with local officials and your drinking water provider.
Identify the actions needed to protect and restore your drinking water sources.
This is where things get exciting — turning assessment to action! If you've done your research and outreach well, identifying source water solutions will be a satisfying step. Whether you are participating in the agency's implementation plan or tackling a specific restoration activity yourself, understanding the tactics and programs available to help is crucial. See Chapter 6 for ideas about how to create the best action plan, as well as a link to our on-line Source Water Toolkit, which will help connect you with the resources you need to move from problem to solution.
Identify the funding to make things happen.
The big question is always: How will we pay for this? It is important to have an answer. If you've developed a great relationship with local officials or the local water utility, they will likely be well versed in the worlds of federal grants, loans, bonds, and levies. If they don't have answers, you aren't totally lost. Creative thinking on funding for drinking water protection abounds — tap into it! See Chapter 7 for ideas about funding the activities you want to tackle.
Share your thoughts with the media.
By this point, you have a good grasp of the threats and potential threats to your community's drinking water supply and have identified solutions that could protect the public. This is news! See Chapter 8 for a diverse range of ideas and sample materials to pique media interest in source water protection.
Make it happen.
Remember, creating a source water plan is not an end in itself. Follow-up is critical. Consider tackling certain protection or restoration projects yourself. Report on restoration or protection progress (or the lack thereof) in the media. Work with local officials to ensure funding continues. Press for water quality monitoring to measure success and evaluate the need for additional work. The options are endless. See Chapter 9 for ideas and examples.
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