Source Water Protection Award 

This award recognizes an organization in Illinois who has developed and implemented exemplary source water protection programs. The drinking water supply sources must be associated with a water system or authority that is regulated by a federal, state, province, or tribal government agency. The award applies to systems using surface water and/or groundwater as their source. Any organization or drinking water system that performs source water protection for drinking water supplies in North America is eligible to apply for the award.

Selection criteria for the award: Source water protection is a highly site-specific process that reflects the inherent diversity of natural waters and the areas from which they are derived. Consequently, successful source water protection programs may vary widely in their details; but it is a premise of this standard that successful programs share several fundamental elements. These elements form the basis of the source water protection standard. Within this generalized framework, individual utilities may establish and maintain source water protection programs that account for their unique local conditions, incorporate the interests of local stakeholders, and reflect sustainable long-term commitments to the process by all parties.

Specifically, the source water protection program should include each of the following six (6) components: (1) a source water protection program vision; (2) source water characterization; (3) source water protection goals; (4) source water protection action plan; (5) implementation of the action plan; and (6) periodic evaluation and revision of the entire program. Although each of the six primary elements may differ greatly in their complexity or effort, they are each vital to the success of the program. Accordingly, basic success in each area should be demonstrated in order for a utility to obtain recognition in the area of source water protection.

In addition to how well a source water protection program satisfies each of the six (6) program components outlined above, the award will also be based on the following three criteria: (1) the effectiveness of the program; (2) the innovativeness of the program approach; and (3) the difficulties overcome by the organization in satisfying the eligibility criteria.

In determining the award winner(s), consideration may be given to the resources available to the organization for the development and implementation of a source water protection program when judging the programs of organizations of difference sizes (within a specific size category).