It focused on protecting groundwater, which many residents surveyed had expressed the greatest level of concern about.

County and town officials said the open-space plans, which place high priority on protecting groundwater, were responses to strong public support for preservation.

Mr. Schneiderman said that the town was "doing its job to protect groundwater and has in fact gone beyond the call of duty."

See the page in this guide on regulation that protects surface water and groundwater.

Other initiatives included multimillion-dollar programs to preserve farms, buy undeveloped land and protect groundwater.

He said a septic system would be located in an area with a thick soil layer to protect groundwater.

I believe that this proposal for a directive to protect groundwater should come into force despite its shortcomings.

The main problem in protecting groundwater is, however, our way of thinking.

No one here disputes the need to protect and improve groundwater, because it is an important source of drinking water.

No municipal landfills: the last closed in the early 1990's under a 1983 state law meant to protect groundwater.