Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2)

Role of Technical Assistance (TA) Providers

The Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) is a locally led, state-supported program that empowers municipalities to take action to improve and protect their public water sources and surrounding environment. Communities accepted into the program will work with technical assistance providers to develop and initiate implementation of their unique Drinking Water Source Protection Program, leading to actionable steps each municipality can take to protect their drinking water sources now and into the future.

Technical assistance (TA) providers work with the community to tailor the DWSP2 process your needs. TA providers support:

• Stakeholder coordinator
• Plan development
• Data interpretation
• Source water map development
• Identifying source water protection methods
• Guidance and resources in funding
• Initiate plan implementation

As a result of working with a TA provider, municipalities will be equipped with a complete source water protection plan, centered on implementation actions to protect their community's drinking water sources. This plan will act as a roadmap that includes:

• Methods to address targeted potential contaminant sources
• Cost analysis for all identified implementation projects
• Potential funding sources that can aid with project costs
• Project partners that can support implementation
• Project timing and schedule

If you would like to work with a TA provider, please fill out our Interest Form. If you have any questions, reach out to the DWSP2 Team at [email protected].

How Your Municipality Can Benefit from DWSP2

DWSP2 is designed to build off previous work, help align priorities, and fill any gaps within a municipality's current and future source water protection efforts. Current DWSP2 municipalities report that the program helps them connect with their constituents on the topic of protecting source water. Additionally, participating municipalities have created and strengthened connections with community partners who, along with their neighboring communities, are:

• Promoting public health and safety
• Supporting economic vitality
• Enhancing environmental protection and recreational opportunities

Eligible Public Water Supplies

DWSP2 is open to all community public drinking water supplies in New York. This program is designed for:

• Small, medium, and large public water supplies
• Rural and urban communities
• Public drinking water supplies that do not have updated source water maps
• Municipalities that have:
  • Groundwater, surface water or both
  • Limited staff capacity
  • A source within or outside their administrative boundary

Increase Funding Opportunities

During the development of a Drinking Water Source Protection Program plan, a municipality's technical assistance provider will help them identify feasible implementation actions and applicable funding sources. The main priority of DWSP2 is for municipalities to implement their source water protection methods. DWSP2 helps take the guesswork out of identifying funding sources and each municipality will be positioned to apply for the funding needed to implement their source water protection program.

To find applicable federal, state, and regional funding sources to which municipalities can apply and receive help when implementing their DWSP2 Plans, view the NYSDEC Funding Finder.

In addition, select State grant programs are now offering additional points - including the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Program and Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program - for State accepted DWSP2 Plans.