AWWA SOURCES59217

This paper discusses the protection of public drinking water sources by incorporating the participation of local land trusts and the use of conservation easements to permanently protect contributing areas to reservoirs and municipal well fields. A land trust can add substantial value to source water protection through a strategic and cost-effective collaboration with a municipal water authority by engaging the cooperation of landowners, negotiating provisions of easements to prohibit and restrict undesired land uses and by monitoring and enforcing those conservation easements in perpetuity. Sample easement provisions are provided along with an overview of potential activities regarding the role of land trusts in source water protection. Includes 5 references, appendix.