Protecting safe, reliable drinking water begins long before water reaches a treatment plant. It starts upstream, in the rivers, lakes, reservoirs and watersheds that supply communities with the water they depend on every day.
Source water protection is a proactive approach to safeguarding drinking water by identifying potential contamination risks, engaging stakeholders across a watershed and reducing threats before they can impact water supplies. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), investments in source water protection can help utilities manage treatment costs and reduce the need for more complex and costly treatment upgrades over time. This multi-barrier approach helps protect water quality from the source to the tap.
As challenges facing water systems continue to grow, source water protection has become one of the most critical priorities in the water sector. The American Water Works Association's 2025 State of the Water Industry Report identified source water protection as a top-five industry challenge, yet only 57.1% of utilities currently have a formal program in place. EPA data also shows that nearly 400 spills occur each year with the potential to impact drinking water sources.
Against this backdrop, private, regulated water utilities are taking a leadership role through comprehensive source water protection programs designed to strengthen operational readiness and resiliency while protecting drinking water sources.
Strengthening Operational Readiness
Effective source water protection requires utilities to anticipate risks before they become emergencies. Private, regulated water utilities are advancing preparedness by implementing standard protection programs that identify potential contamination threats and strengthen emergency response planning. These efforts help utilities prepare for events including pollutant spills, harmful algal blooms and other emerging threats.
In 2025, West Virginia American Water hosted source water tabletop exercises in its Central and Eastern Operations Areas, bringing together utility operations, water quality, environmental, and communications staff with elected officials, community organizations, hospitals, law enforcement, fire departments, state and federal regulatory agencies, emergency management personnel, and members of the public. The exercises evaluated preparedness for source water contamination incidents, including operational response, implementation of contingency and communication plans, public notification requirements, resource management under National Incident Management System (NIMS) protocols, and coordination among response partners. The exercises strengthened relationships, identified potential gaps, and improved readiness before an actual emergency occurs.
The result is a more proactive approach that helps reduce risk and supports the continued delivery of reliable drinking water supplies.
Using Technology to Stay Ahead of Water Quality Challenges
Technology is transforming how utilities monitor and protect water sources.
Private, regulated water utilities are increasingly utilizing advanced monitoring systems, data analytics and geographic information systems (GIS) to improve visibility into source water conditions and strengthen decision-making. These tools can provide earlier awareness of changing water quality conditions, allowing operators to assess risks and make informed operational decisions.
Utilities have access to advanced monitoring and treatment technologies that support proactive source water management. For example, Pennsylvania American Water has utilized SolarBees, solar-powered water circulation systems that improve water quality by preventing stagnation, reducing algae growth, and addressing taste and odor concerns in reservoirs and other water bodies. American Water has further evaluated early warning system technologies that incorporate unmanned aerial systems (UAS or drones), satellites, online sensors, and spectral imaging to improve visibility into source water conditions and enhance the early detection of water quality changes, including potential HAB events.
Enhanced source water monitoring programs are helping utilities move beyond traditional sampling approaches by providing more timely information and greater situational awareness. At the same time, data management tools are improving how utilities identify, prioritize and track potential contamination sources throughout their watersheds. American Water's Source Water Information Management (SWIM) tool is one example, providing an interactive mapping platform that consolidates source water data, potential sources of contamination, monitoring information, and watershed features into a single system. This enables utilities to more efficiently assess risks, support emergency response efforts and prioritize source water protection activities.
By combining innovative technologies with strong operational practices and partnerships, utilities can improve resilience and support faster, more coordinated responses to emerging threats.
Building Stronger Communities Through Partnership
Protecting source water cannot be accomplished by utilities alone.
Successful source water protection depends on collaboration among utilities, regulators, watershed organizations, conservation groups, local governments, emergency responders, businesses and the public. Private, regulated water utilities play an important role in bringing these stakeholders together to address risks at a watershed scale.
Across the country, utilities are partnering with environmental organizations, participating in watershed initiatives, supporting educational outreach and engaging customers in efforts that protect local water resources. In Indiana, American Water collaborates with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's (IDEM) Nonpoint Source Program through participation in watershed planning efforts such as the Upper White River Watershed Management Plan and Upper East Fork Whitewater River Watershed Plan committees. These partnerships bring together utilities, local governments, soil and water conservation districts, and community stakeholders to identify water quality priorities, implement watershed protection strategies, and secure funding for long-term restoration and protection projects. American Water also works closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other conservation partners to support agricultural best management practices and long-term watershed stewardship efforts.
Similar collaborative approaches are being implemented in other states. In New Jersey, American Water helped establish a multi-agency Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Discussion Group following a significant HAB event in the Millstone River. The group includes water utilities, state regulators, researchers, wastewater agencies, and watershed partners who meet regularly to share monitoring data, UAS and satellite imagery, response protocols, and emerging technologies to improve HAB detection, communication, and mitigation efforts throughout the Raritan Basin. These efforts have strengthened regional coordination, enhanced early detection capabilities, and improved long-term resilience to future HAB events.
These partnerships help build awareness, strengthen stewardship and create opportunities for long-term solutions that benefit both communities and the environment.
Private, regulated utilities also support compliance with key environmental and public health regulations, including the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act, helping communities strengthen their overall source water protection efforts.
A Long-Term Commitment to Water Security
Source water protection is not a one-time project. It is an ongoing commitment to understanding risks, building partnerships, improving preparedness and investing in long-term solutions that protect drinking water supplies for future generations.
Leading private, regulated water utilities are advancing this work through standardized programs, strategic partnerships, monitoring and analytics, employee and customer engagement, and active participation in industry and watershed initiatives. Their efforts help create systems that are more resilient and better positioned to respond to future challenges.
Protecting drinking water starts upstream. By investing in source water protection today, private, regulated water utilities are helping safeguard public health, strengthen communities and preserve vital water resources for years to come.