Public Education Brochures developed by Source Water Coalitions & Public Water Systems
There is a wealth of “off the shelf” public education materials available to use for your Source Water Protection Program. Public education programs will pay off for years to come and are probably the most important and least expensive source water protection management measure that every community can use. A variety of resources are available that can be used “as is” or can be easily customized – no need to “re-invent the wheel!” Take a look at the examples from around Pennsylvania and beyond.
Pennsylvania
Columbia - Montour Counties Source Water Protection Coalition Brochure
- Berks County Water & Sewer Association Guides
- Bucks County – Springfield Twp Bucks County SWP Brochure
- Centre & Clearfield Counties – produced a brochure under a 2012-2013 WREN SWP Collaborative Grant: Central PA Source Water Alliance for Protection Brochure – May 2013
- Clearfield County, PA
- Clearfield MA SWPTAP Homeowner Guide brochure
- Clearfield MA SWPTAP Pharma Disposal Brochure
- Houtzdale MA SWP Homeowner Guide Brochure – PDF file -2 pgs.
- Irvona Muni Authority PA SWP Brochure for homeowners – PDF file – 2 pgs.
Columbia-Montour Counties
- Columbia-Montour Source Water Protection Coalition formed in 2013 with support of a WREN Source Water Protection Collaborative Grant. Partners include: Columbia County Conservation District, Montour County Conservation District, Columbia County Commissioners, Columbia County Emergency Management Agency, United Water Pennsylvania, Catawissa Water Authority, and Fishing Creek Watershed Association.
- Click here for Columbia-Montour Source Water Protection Brochure Nov2013
- View Columbia-Montour County Source Water Collaborative website
- Lancaster County, PA - Eastern Lancaster Source Water Protection Coalition (ELANCO) comprised of Terre Hill Borough, New Holland Borough, East Earl Township, and Earl Township, worked with a local high school to produce their source water protection brochure under a 2012-2013 WREN SWP Grant – PDF File of Terre Hill Brochure FINAL
- Lehigh County – City of Allentown produced a brochure under a 2012-2013 WREN SWP Collaborative Grant: “Follow the Signs” Source Water Protection Brochure 9-28-12
- Lycoming County – North Central Source Water Protection Alliance -Lycoming Cty SWP Brochure 2012
- Montgomery County - East Greenville Montg Cty SWP Brochure
- Pike County – Pocono Source Water Protection Collaborative Fact Sheet; produced under a 2013-2014 WREN SWP Collaborative Grant (Oct 2013) -
- Potter County – Produced under a 2011-2012 WREN SWP Collaborative Grant – Triple Divide Watershed Coalition Brochure Apr 2012
- Southwest Pennsylvania – RAIN Newsletter Volume II, Issue I Jan 2012-
- Schuylkill Action Network (SAN)
- Tioga County -Produced under a 2011-2012 WREN SWP Collaborative Grant – Tioga Cty Coalition 2011 WREN Grant SWP Brochure
Examples of Public Education materials outside Pennsylvania
- Door Hanger Stormwater – EPA
- Purdue Wellhead Protection Brochure
- Rhode Island Block Island SWP Fact Sheet
- Guide to Source Water Protection – 12 pgs. Ontario
- Wellhead Protection Newsletter – Missouri
- Groundwater Protection Poster NDWC – National Drinking Water Clearinghouse
- Groundwater and Land Use Poster
National Source Water Collaborative
National Source Water Collaborative - 25 national organizations united to protect America’s sources of drinking water. Click for member information.
Protecting Drinking Water Resources through Agricultural Conservation - Collaboration Toolkit. This toolkit, developed as a result of extensive collaboration between members of the Source Water Collaborative, NACD and the NRCS, offers a step-by-step approach. The resources inside are useful for anyone working in source water protection: from those who already know their State Conservationist or District Conservationist (NRCS) or Executive Director/Board Member or Conservation District Manager (NACD), but may be looking for new ideas, to those aiming to build a successful relationship.
Brochure template - Create a customized Drinking Water Protection Brochure in just a few minutes- “Your Water. Your Decision.”
How to Collaborate Guide – New for 2015, the national Source Water Collaborative released a helpful how-to guide that anyone interested in starting or enhancing community based water quality protection efforts should read called “How to Collaborate: How to Build and Maintain Effective Partnerships to Protect Sources of Drinking Water.” The Toolkit is part of the SWC’s ongoing efforts to help foster local, state and regional/watershed source water collaboratives.
Effectively addressing drinking water contamination often requires working with key partners, across organizational and jurisdictional boundaries. Designed to meet a broad array of needs, this Toolkit provides helpful tips, sample materials, and thoughtful resources organized by each stage of collaboration, from those just getting started to mature partnerships seeking new inspiration.
Fact Sheets (click for link)
Newsletters
Stay up to date on the latest drinking water protection news in Pennsylvania. Check out two free e-newsletters here, Water Policy News and “The Source.”
Water Policy News
Water Policy News is a free e-newsletter that covers news about Pennsylvania water system source water protection efforts, funding sources, tools for engaging and educating communities and Feature stories about water systems that are taking action in Pennsylvania to develop source water protection plans and implement SWP management measures.
View issues of Water Policy News.
“The Source” Newsletter
Covers source water protection examples in Pennsylvania; produced quarterly by SSM Group, Inc. of Reading, PA. www.ssmgroup.com
Keystone Tap
Keystone Tap is a monthly magazine produced by PA Rural Water Association (www.prwa.com) featuring a wide variety of water and wastewater topics, including helpful articles about source water protection.
Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB)
PA Borough News Magazine – Jan/Feb 2013: The Triple Divide Watershed Coalition: 2012 Winner of PA Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence and 2011-2012 WREN Grantee
By Ellen Kiley and Julie Kollar, Director of WREN
Weeks after being applauded as a national model for protection of treasured watersheds, the Triple Divide Watershed Coalition based in Potter County, was awarded the prestigious Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence in the “Building Community Partnerships” category in April 2012.
Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) - PA Township News
Keeping Drinking Water Safe: Source Water Protection Becoming a Top Priority for Townships
Article by Andrea Bennett, U.S. EPA Region 3
Many people don’t realize the number of factors that can affect drinking water safety, from stormwater runoff to the use of lawn-care products. Township supervisors are trying to change that with comprehensive source water and wellhead protection programs that educate the public, prevent groundwater pollution, and offer tips for managing activities that could compromise this critical resource. Read more.
Articles about Source Water Protection Coalitions in Pennsylvania - Click Here>>
National Environmental Service Center
Source Water Protection for Local Officials:
Source Water Protection Lessons for Adults and Students Available from FFA
The FFA organization released a series of 20 source water protection lessons helpful for adults and students for the high school level through a partnership with USDA and EPA. The lessons contain hands-on and remedial activities, supplemental web and community resources, assessments, and community stewardship. Content covered includes the water cycle, drinking water basics, the watershed approach, and agricultural conservation practices to protect water quality. (Note: Links may not yet work as FFA is in the process of updating its website as of Feb/Mar 2015)
- Lesson 1 – Water in your community: Where does it come from? Where does it go?
- Lesson 2 – Water on and under the farm: Where does it come from and how is it used?
- Lesson 3 – What is the source of my drinking water? Source Water!
- Lesson 4 – What are the threats to water quality in agricultural areas?
- Lesson 5 – What is the relationship between soil and drinking water quality?
- Lesson 6 – Drinking water safety – Health concerns and testing
- Lesson 7 – Drinking Water Treatment
- Lesson 8 – Drinking Water Quality and Quantity Concerns On and Near the Farm
- Lesson 9 – Who Protects Source Water?
- Lesson 10 – How Does the Government Protect Public Water?
- Lesson 11 – Land Use Decision Makers and Their Roles in Drinking Water Protection
- Lesson 12 – From Field to Faucet: Introduction to Farm Conservation Practices
- Lesson 13 – From Field to Faucet: Farm Conservation Plans and Source Water Protection
- Lesson 14 – From Field to Faucet: Nutrient (N/P) Management and Source Water Protection
- SW.14.TM.Video 1
- Lesson 15 – Water Protection in Rural Communities: Examples of Funding and technical Assistance
- Lesson 16 – Source Water Protection Downstream
- Lesson 17 – Source Water Protection in Agricultural Communities: The Watershed Management Approach
- Lesson 18 – Beyond the Watershed: Water Use and Conservation
- Lesson 19 – Climate Change Impacts on Agricultural Water Resources
- Lesson 20 – Stewardship and Reflection – Source Water Protection and My Community