Despite its importance, Iowa source water faces increasing pressure from development, pollution, land use changes, and growing demands for drinking water. How we protect our water resources today will determine whether Iowa remains prosperous in the future. What is source water? Source water is a lake, stream, river or aquifer where drinking water is obtained. What is Source Water Protection? Source Water Protection (SWP) is the act of preventing contaminants from entering public drinking water sources. SWP includes both ground water (wellhead) protection and surface water protection.

Iowa's Source Water Protection Program Plans:
There are three primary components to DNR SWP planning:

• Phase 1 - Source Water Protection Assessment Report: Includes developing the susceptibility assessment, developing the source water delineations, and conducting a contaminant source inventory (completed by the Source Water Protection Program Geologist).
  
  
• Phase 2 - SWP Plan: Beginning in state fiscal year 2008 the SWP Plans will incorporate the SWP Nine Step Planning Process. SWP Plans include raw water sampling of shallow alluvial wells in the designated priority community water supplies (CWS). These assessments are designed to help identify high nitrate wells and may result in further ground water investigation to identify the source of the contamination.

  The SWP Plan also includes: coordination of a SWP Community Planning Team who will assist in identifying potential source water risks, development of a SWP plan that includes a GIS map and SWP work plan. The SWP Plan identifies potential risks, the source of contamination, and identifies Best Management Practices (BMPs) to address the risks. In addition, the SWP Plan identifies the available resources and a timeline to complete the implementation of BMPs.

  The DNR SWP Program has developed guidance for developing the Phase 2 SWP Plans.
  
  

• Phase 3 - Implementation of SWP Plan.

Resources and Information

• Nine Step Planning Process
• Source Water Assessment and Protection Program and Implementation Strategy
• Map of Priority and Highly Susceptible Community Water Systems (*.pdf)

DNR Contact
Rebecca Ohrtman
Source Water Protection Coordinator
(515) 281-0932
Rebecca.Ohrtman@dnr.iowa.gov