This month the Source Water Collaborative Learning Exchange will showcase the work of local, state, and regional source water protection partnerships. These source water collaboratives constitute a diverse set of entities with differing geographic scopes, water and pollution concerns, collaborative goals, and member organizations. All, however, share a common mission of protecting sources of drinking water and the people they serve, and all recognize the immense value of a collaborative approach.
Defending drinking water is truly a shared responsibility that ultimately takes place at the local level. Recognizing this fact, over the past several years the Source Water Collaborative has supported several pilot projects to build partnerships towards implementing key protections in critical source water areas. Last year, the SWC published the first-of-its-kind How to Collaborate Toolkit, which offers a detailed, step-wise approach for initiating and enhancing partnerships to protect drinking water sources. Throughout September, the Learning Exchange will provide access to success stories, helpful tips, and thoughtful resources on “Forming and Sustaining Collaboratives”. You will also have the opportunity to hear updates and lessons learned directly from established and new local source water partnerships during a webinar on September 27. Click here to register.
A wide variety of source water collaboratives are working around the country on drinking water issues at local, state, and regional levels. Big impacts can be made when partners that have a shared interest come together with a desire and ability to act. We hope these resources and opportunities encourage those just getting started and provide new inspiration to established partnerships.