CONSERVATION

Page 1

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY FACT SHEET June 2016

Source Water Protection Program

OVERVIEW

The Source Water Protection Program, a joint 

project of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the 

nonprofit National Rural Water Association 

(NRWA), helps to prevent source water pollution 

in all 50 states through voluntary practices 

implemented locally by agricultural producers.

The program is authorized by Sec. 12400 of the 

1985 Farm Bill, as amended. 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.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

NRWA operates the Source Water Protection 

Program with oversight and assistance provided by 

FSA. For each state, NRWA hires full-time water 

technicians with knowledge and experience in rural 

issues. The technicians help to create local teams 

comprised of citizens and federal, state, local and 

private entities who together work with FSA state 

executive directors, FSA county executive directors 

and state conservation specialists with USDA’s 

Natural Resources Conservation Service to create 

plans that identify where pollution prevention is 

needed most.

The technicians assist these teams in gathering 

local data and facilitate a planning workshop. The 

workshop allows participants to create a plan, 

known as the Rural Source Water Protection plan 

that includes the following:

• A map of the affected areas;

• An inventory of potential contaminant sources;

• A definition of areas that match up with entities 

and organizations;

• A definition of voluntary measures that may be 

initiated;

• Identification of public education initiatives; 

and

• Identification of entities and resources that will 

facilitate implementation of the plan and its 

sustainability.

The plans outline voluntary measures that 

agricultural producers can install on their lands to 

prevent water pollution, such as storing herbicides 

or pesticides in more secure containers, or 

relocating waste lagoons. The plans also establish 

committees to evaluate the voluntary practices 

implemented by producers. The teams educate 

producers about source water protection measures 

that can benefit their neighbors and communities. 

FSA monitors the overall performance of the 

program.

PARTICIPATING STATES 

The program has been implemented in all 50 states. 

More information is available from each state 

Rural Water Association (Connecticut and Rhode 

Island are combined as the Atlantic States Rural 

Water Association) at 

http://nrwa.org/initiatives/sourcewater-protection/.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

Producers can participate by administering 

voluntary practices on their land and/or by 

becoming team members that develop the Rural 

Source Water Protection plans. Citizens from 

federal, state, local and private entities also can 

serve on local teams. Socially disadvantaged 

farmer or rancher means a farmer or rancher who is 

a member of a socially disadvantaged group whose 

members have been subjected to racial or ethnic 

prejudice because of their identity as members of a 

group without regard to their individual qualities. 

Gender is not included.

INFORMATION ABOUT NRWA

NRWA was established in 1976 as a nonprofit, 

utility membership, trade association to represent 

rural and small community water and wastewater 
FACT SHEET

Source Water Protection Program June 2016

systems. Today, NRWA is the largest utility 

member-based organization in the country serving 

all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico with more than 

31,000 members.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information about FSA and its programs, 

visit your local FSA county office or USDA service 

center, or on the web at www.fsa.usda.gov.

_________________________________________

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, 

the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions 

participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited 

from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, 

sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income 

derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program 

or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to 

all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by 

program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 

audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the 

responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 

(voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may 

be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 

Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online 

at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any 

USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in 

the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request 

a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your 

completed form or letter to USDA by:

1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant

 Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW

 Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Page 2