Why do we need drinking water service area boundaries?
Over the next few months, we’ll explore several case studies that highlight the many benefits of a comprehensive national map of water system service areas.
Since releasing our provisional nationwide map of water service area boundaries, we are keen to work with partners across the water sector to improve boundary accuracy and utility. Last week, over 100 stakeholders across federal and state agencies, academia, and the water utility and technology sector attended a webinar where we presented our methodology and provisional map and also engaged in a dialogue about the work and next steps.
As we described in our blog post earlier this month, our first map is far from perfect. We need to both improve the methodology for approximating service area boundaries and work with parters to keep this dataset up-to-date and accurate - we are keen to work with you all in doing so over the coming months (and years!). However, for folks that are less versed in this dataset, we are also working with partners to demonstrate the many ways this data can be used and maintained.
Each month this summer, we will post a use case for drinking water service area boundaries on EPIC’s blog. These use cases will range from individual members of the public up to the federal government. We hope each case demonstrates the value of service area boundary data as a public good that will improve drinking water equity throughout the country.
Our use cases will cover:
The Federal Government - there is currently no drinking water metric in the Climate and Economic Justice Screening tool. How can these data be used to prioritize investments in communities that lack access to affordable, reliable and safe drinking water?
State and tribal governments - some states use existing service area boundary data for drought resiliency planning. How can linking drinking water service areas to population data support drought planning to ensure there is enough water in an area to support a growing population? And, what state policies does this impact?
Individuals and community organizations - renters often have the most difficult time determining if their water is safe to drink. They may not pay their bill directly or receive annual water quality reports. How would service area boundaries help a renter learn more about their quality of their water, and equip advocates with data about which areas need improvements?
Water utilities - water systems interested in regional partnerships may not know who their neighboring water systems are, and smaller water systems may not have the resources to create a digital map of their service area. How can the Internet of Water Coalitions’s boundary updating tool allow water systems of all sizes to easily draw their boundary and improve regional partnerships?
If you would like to collaborate with us to write any of these case studies or have additional ideas to profile, please contact us at jessie@policyinnovation.org.
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The Environmental Policy Innovation Center believes that technology can accelerate environmental progress and promote equity. To realize this promise, government agencies need the right people, policies, processes, and tools to solve environmental challenges. Water Service Area Boundaries are just one of these tools.
The Environmental Policy Innovation Center built a technology program to help government agencies who want to work at the cross-section of environmental outcomes and innovation. With our partners, we work to:
Strengthen government’s capacity to develop or use technology;
Improve technology policies and processes to accelerate environmental solutions, center community experience, and encourage co-creation processes; and
Create data and tools that enable community engagement.