Ensure safe drinking water. Percentage of all Marylanders who are currently served by public drinking water systems that receive water from vulnerable surface sources which have active source protection programs in place. Identifying those contaminants and significant contaminant sources which place water supplies in jeopardy is a necessary first step in developing watershed based protection programs. Creating interjurisdictional commitments to identify, prevent, and minimize such risks are needed for the program's success.
Successful programs improve the safety and reliability of Maryland's water supplies.
In depth risk assessments are underway in all three systems concurrent with development of improved watershed management practices. Significant local participation has been key to program successes. Coordination with other agencies and other states has begun for other water system watersheds. Conversion of forested land into residential, commercial, or industrial use land negatively effects water quality. The extension of suburban areas into the Piedmont, and Valley and Ridge provinces places greater stresses on downstream water supplies.