This paper discusses the National Rural Water Association's (NRWA) Source Water Protection Programs. In 1991 NRWA began a program in conjunction with the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to actively assist communities in developing and implementing a straightforward 5-step approach to wellhead protection. This 5-step program to wellhead protection is outlined in USEPA's publication "Wellhead Protection: A Guide for Small Communities" and includes the following steps: forming a community planning team; delineating the wellhead protection area; identifying and locating potential sources of contamination; managing the wellhead protection area; and, planning for the future. The NRWA's Wellhead Protection program is tailored to the uniqueness of the individual communities, their water resources and their potential threats to contamination. In 2001, the NRWA developed a source water protection program that incorporates many of the aspects of the wellhead protection program while broadening the focus of protection from single wellheads to area-wide or basin-wide protection areas. The focus of the program includes surface water sources, springs and groundwater sources. Source water management activities include: water quality monitoring; an assortment of zoning, permitting and ordinances; waste management activities; posting of signs; land acquisition; and various public education activities. Another vital element of the source water protection plan is the development of an emergency preparedness or contingency planning process that establishes a framework for communities to evaluate the vulnerability of their water systems and develop a plan to prevent and react to any unforeseen danger.