Source Water Technical Assistance






Minnesota Rural Water Association’s Source Water Protection Program offers an opportunity for public water supply providers to develop plans to protect the quality of drinking water using local community resources. MRWA’s Source Water Specialists are available to provide information and training for City Councils, Boards, Utility Commissions, other local community leaders, and Source Water Protection Team members.
Regulations:ย
Outreach โ Education
Minnesota Rural Water Associationโs Source Water Protection Program offers an opportunity for public water supply providers to develop plans to protect the quality of drinking water using local community resources.ย MRWAโs Staff Specialists are available to provide information and training for City Councils, Boards, Utility Commissions, other local community leaders and Source Water Protection Team members.ย
Technical Assistance
MRWAโs Specialists will help with creation of a local Team and work with team members through a FIVE-STEP PROGRAM, which has been designed to simplify the development of local water quality protection programs. The MRWA FIVE-STEP PROGRAM includes the following action items:ย
- Form a community planning team.
- Identify the land area to be protected.
- Identify land uses and possible sources of pollution in the identified area.
- Implement ways to prevent drinking water contamination.
- Develop an alternate way to supply water if the public well becomes contaminated.
Information โ Data
Program materials, forms, sample documents, training programs and public education items have been developed to assist the local Team put together a Source Water Protection Plan.ย Items available for use include sample ordinances, press releases, resolutions, examples of plans from other areas of the state and nation, and workable solutions for addressing local water quality problems.ย
Implementation
Possibly the most important step in development of a local Source Water Protection Plan is implementation of the work items contained within the plan.ย MRWAโs Specialists will continue to assist local community team members with on-going support and encouragement to not only start to protect local water quality, but to follow though with a long-term protection program.ย Future community members deserve good, safe drinking water.
Continuing Support
MRWAโs other specialized technical assistance programs also offer help and support, in order that communities can continue to provide the best possible service to their water and waste water customers.ย
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This site is designed to provide information on the Source Water Protection Program and to provide quick links to additional sources of information that are available. This page was developed in partnership with theย Minnesota Department of Health. In working with the communities in our state, we hope to increase public awareness of where drinking water comes from, how it can become contaminated, and how planning ahead can help prevent major problems with both supply and quality.
Source Water Educational Resources – developed in conjunction with MDH
MRWA Source Water Success Stories
WHP Planning / Consultant Webinars
*MDH Link: Wells and Borings – Well Management Program
*MDH Link: Minnesota Well Index (MWI)
Data Elements Information Table
Link: MPCA’s Web Site: “How’s the Water?” – A snapshot of Water Quality in Minnesota
Link: University of MN Protecting our Water Takes Good Drinking Water and Septic Fact Sheet Guide
Watch: How a new grain could help combat climate change: PBS NewsHour
Journey of a Water Molecule Video Link
Article: MDH Purchased Equipment to Find Wells
2023 MRWA Tech Conference Well Head Protection Presentations
Click the map areas below to see which SWP Staff is in your area.

Minnesota Department of Health: Noncommunity Drinking Water: Safe Drinking Water Wherever You Go
MDH video commemorating the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The MDH, Martha Weaver and Erik Thorson (Anoka Co Public Information) have completed the production of the well sealing video – watch it above.
Freddy the Fish teaches kids about what happens to rain after it hits the ground, where storm drains lead to, and what we can do to help prevent water pollution.
MRWA SOURCE WATER ARTICLES
How to Switch Gears: Moving from WHP Plan Development to Protecting Your Drinking Water Supplyย by Robyn Hoerr
Partner Protection Grants -New Drinking Water Protection Programsย by Aaron Meyer
Farm Bill Funding for Source Water Protection by Scott Hanson
City of Georgetown Recognized for their Source Water Protection Efforts – by Mike Strodtman
Best Tasting Water in Minnesotaย ย by Robyn Hoerr
Wellheadlines: Wellhead Protection Action Plans for Non-Municipal Public Water Systems Part 2 – SWP Implementation Grantsย ย by Dave Neiman
The Source Water Protection Award – Recognition So Richly Deservedย ย ย by Robyn Hoerr
Soil Health and Water Qualityย ย by Scott Hanson
MRWA Wellheadlines: Wellhead Protection Action Plans
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย for Non-Municipal Public Water Systemsย ย by Dave Neiman
MRWA Wellheadlines: MRWA Source Water Educational
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Resourcesย ย by Dave Neiman
Wellheadlines: If It Isn’t Documented, It Didn’t Happen!
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย by Dave Neiman
Why is Source Water Protection Important?ย ย by Scott Hanson
Measuring Water Levels in Wellsย ย by Mike Strodtman
Minnesota Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย (MNCREP)ย by Aaron Meyer
City of Bigfork – Winner of MRWA’s Water Taste Test Contest
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย by Robyn Hoerr
MnDOT Cuts Back Road Salt Use – Link
Action Plansย ย by Dave Neiman
In A Battle Against Nitratesย ย by Aaron Meyer
City of Elk River Goes With the Flow and Seals a Flowing
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Artesian Wellย ย by Robyn Hoerr
2016 Sourcewater Long Prairie Award
New Tool to Help Battle Those Dreaded Nitratesย
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย by Aaron Meyer
City of Le Center: Winner of the MRWA Water Taste Testย
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย by Robyn Hoerr
Conservation Cropland Practices for Protecting Groundwater
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Booklet
Educating the Next Generation ย by Mike Strodtman
Minnesota County Well Indexย ย by Dave Neiman
Ghosts of Land Use Practices – by Aaron Meyer
Wellhead Protection Plan Amendments – Are They Worth It?
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย by Robyn Hoerr
Cold Spring: More Than Just Beer! – check out page 21 on link
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย –Cold Spring recognized by EPA for WHP Efforts
Oklee Well Searchย by Mike Strodtman
City of Roscoe Well Sealing Projectย by Dave Neiman
Providing Groundwater Education to Kidsย by Robyn Hoerr
Invest in Your Future: Money Well Spentย by Aaron Meyer
City of Marble Removal of Old Fuel Tanks – by Mike Strodtman
Money! Money! Money! by Aaron Meyer
MRWA Wellheadlines How To Create Success – by Dave Neiman
WHP Efforts in City of Sturgeon Lake – by Mike Strodtman
WHP Implementation: Finding Some Assistance to Help You
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Make a Difference!ย by Robyn Hoerr
Minnesota’s Groundwater: Is Our Use Sustainable?
Planning a Children’s Water Festival
Slides of Source Water / Groundwater Mini-Sessions at MRWA’s 30th Annual Water & Wastewater Technical Conference — download pdfs of presentations below:
ย ย ย *Benefits of Wellhead Protection to Your Community
ย ย ย *Where Does Your Groundwater Come From?
ย ย ย *Alternate Water Supply Contingency Strategy &
ย ย ย ย ย Emergency Response
ย ย ย *Applying for a SWP Implementation Grant & Other Funding
ย ย ย ย ย Sources
ย ย ย *Wellhead Protection Issues Related to Mining Activities
ย ย ย *Hydrogeology 101