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Source Water Protection

Information about Assessing, Protecting and Managing Drinking Water Sources

Surface water (streams, rivers, and lakes) or ground water (aquifers) can serve as sources of drinking water, referred to as source water. Source water provides water for public drinking water supplies and private water wells.
Public utilities treat most water used for public drinking water supplies. Protecting source water from contamination can reduce treatment costs. Protecting source water also reduces risks to public health from exposures to contaminated water.

What would you like to do?

Top tasks

Look at Water Supply Protection Maps  Find a Form or Template 

What you need to know

General Information and Fact Sheets  Detailed information for Town Officials and Public Water Suppliers  Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) Program  Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) Program documents  Grants Available for Source Protection 

Contact Information

Address

MassDEP Boston
1 Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108
Directions 

Phone

Program Director 617-292-5770

Online

MassDEP Drinking Water Program program.director-dwp@mass.gov

More Information

Additional Resources

US EPA Protect Sources of Drinking Water
Image credits:  Quabbin Reservoir
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