Comment submitted by Andrews Tolman, Maine CDC Drinking Water Program

US EPA provided significant resources to states to conduct source water assessments, which were completed in 2003. Since that time, states have had the option of using some set-aside funding from the DWSRF to encourage and track the progress of public water systems toward state-defined targets for source protection. As we approach the tenth anniversary of completion of assessments, EPA should review state progress and assess whether this voluntary program has reduced risk to drinking water. Should efforts in source protection, security, emergency preparedness, system capacity and climate change be more closely coordinated at the federal level? How can EPA and the states help very small community systems find resources to develop capacity in these areas? This information collection is useful if EPA utilizes it to improve the underlying program and its coordination with other activities. Part of the review of the information collected should include whether source protection, a keystone of the multiple barrier approach to public health protection, should be a funded requirement rather than a voluntary activity.