The Octoraro Source Water Collaborative is a partnership of local stakeholders, environmental and non-profit organizations, government agencies, municipal staff and officials, and farmers that work together to protect the Upper Octoraro Watershed, which ultimately drains to the Octoraro Reservoir.

The Collaborative was formed in 2016 by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Octoraro Watershed Association, and Chester Water Authority.  The Collaborative’s original purpose was to improve water quality for the Octoraro Reservoir, the primary source water used by Chester Water Authority. These partners focused their work on conducting outreach, predominantly to Plain Sect farms and communities in the Upper Octoraro Watershed, and supporting implementation of water quality best management practices (BMPs) on interested farms in that region.

Since the formation of the Collaborative in 2016, partners have seen many successes in implementing best management practices and the Collaborative has grown to include over 16 partners.