PRACTICES TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE WATER SOURCES

Sustainability can be defined simply as the utilization of our water sources while ensuring that we do not impact the ability of future generations to use the same sources. Increasing development, population growth, and natural events such as climate change can have a significant effect on water quantity and quality. While drinking water providers strive to ensure that a plentiful supply of high-quality drinking water is available to its customers, continued development upstream of existing and planned future supplies can pose a pollution threat and affect the long-term sustainability of the supply. Many source water protection activities undertaken by public water suppliers and their watershed partners can be considered as practices to ensure the sustainable quality of those drinking water sources. Examples of current and innovative source water protection practices that contribute to ensuring source sustainability follow.