The Boothbay Region Water Company as a National Model for Source Water Protection

Public Service Announcement

Objectives:
The source water protection issues faced by the Boothbay Region Water Company (BRWC) are a microcosm for many of the problems that occur nationally. The successes and failures encountered at this relatively small system can be scaled to different sized systems and different locations. The BRWC has challenges that can be met through focused source water protection activities.

The SWAP process has been completed for BRWC and this project will focus on risks identified in the report. This public drinking water supply has been a pilot site with the Maine Drinking Water Program, the Senator George J. Mitchell at the University of Maine, and the Maine Water Utilities Association. The objective of the pilot project was to develop methods to turn the SWAP process into action. The SWAP report will be released to the public in June 2002. In particular we want to develop watershed stewardship through focused education, outreach, and citizen engagement throughout the small basins.

Our specific objectives are:

• Rank risks identified in the SWAP report.
• Provide education and outreach to engage citizens in watershed stewardship.
• Provide focus on goals bearing short-term results.
• Develop framework for the BRWC to use for long-term goals.
• Scale project to make a template suitable for national use.
• Provide outreach through appropriate media or professional meetings to assist other small utilities.