The Source Water Protection Program, a joint project by USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the nonprofit National Rural Water Association (NRWA), is designed to help prevent source water pollution in 33 states through voluntary practices installed by producers as local levels.

Source water is surface and ground water that is consumed by rural residents. According to the NRWA, ground water is the primary source of drinking water for some 44,000 communities in the United States.

NRWA is implementing the Source Water Protection Program, with oversight and assistance by FSA. Through the program, NRWA is hiring, for every participating state, full-time Rural Source Water technicians who possess knowledge and experience in rural issues. The technicians will work with FSA state executive directors, FSA county executive directors, and state conservation specialists with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service to create operating plans that identify priority areas where local pollution prevention efforts are needed most in their respective states.

Working with State Rural Water Associations, technicians will also facilitate the creation of local teams comprised of citizens with diverse backgrounds from federal, state, local, and private entities. These teams will collaborate in the development of Rural Source Water Protection plans that promote clean ground water. The technicians will assist the teams in gathering local data and facilitate a planning workshop. The purpose of the workshop will be to create a plan that will include, but will not be limited to, developing the following:

Rural Source Water Protection plans will outline voluntary measures that farmers, ranchers, and other producers can install on their lands to prevent source water pollution. Voluntary measures may range from producers storing herbicides, pesticides, or other substances in more secure containers to relocating waste lagoons. By working at the grassroots level, local team members will inform and educate producers about source water protection measures that benefit their neighbors and communities. Additionally, the plans will establish steering committees to evaluate voluntary practices implemented by local producers. FSA will monitor the overall performance of the program.

The program is being implemented in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The 33 states participating in the Source Water Protection Program were chosen based on objective technical criteria relating to water quality and population.

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural producers in the aforementioned states are encouraged to participate in the Source Water Protection Program. They can take part in the program by administering voluntary practices on their land and/or by becoming team members responsible for the development of Rural Source Water Protection plans. Citizens from federal, state, local, and private entities also can serve on local teams.

The NRWA was established in 1976 as a nonprofit, utility membership, trade association to represent rural and small community water and wastewater systems. Today, NRWA is the largest utility member-based organization in the country serving in 48 contiguous states, as well as Alaska and Puerto Rico with more than 23,500 members.

For more information about FSA programs, visit: www.fsa.usda.gov.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.