Public drinking water source areas (PDWSAs) are surface water catchments and groundwater areas that provide drinking water to cities, towns and communities throughout the state. PDWSAs are proclaimed under the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage, and Drainage Act 1909 or the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947. Groundwater sources are normally referred to as underground water pollution control areas or water reserves. Surface water sources are generally referred to as catchment areas.

The PDWSA dataset is used by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation in policy decision-making and for providing advice about protecting drinking water quality when land uses and activities are proposed in PDWSAs.

This dataset was formally known as Public Drinking Water Source Areas (DOW-007)