Source Water Protection Assistance Program

Section 1452 of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act provides funding support for source water assessment and protection in Kentucky through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) set-asides. The Division of Water (DOW) administers the Source Water Protection Assistance Program (SWPAP) which provides funding for source water protection to eligible applicants and projects. The program is designed to provide communities with funding to develop and implement projects within a one-year time frame to protect public drinking water sources. Funding is limited to public water systems, municipal entities, water or conservation districts, units and subunits of local governments, associations, educational institutions and some nonprofits under 26 U.S.C. sec.501 (c)(3).

Eligible activities include those projects that lead to a reduced risk of degradation or contamination of the drinking water source. Projects must contribute to improved protection of one or more active or planned public drinking water supply sources and are expected to provide long-term benefits to source water quality. Projects that implement measures to address conditions or contaminants that could have a negative effect on drinking water sources are eligible for funding. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to: identification, removal or management of contaminant sources, source area security measures, and public education/outreach.