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October
1996 In this Issue WREN WEBSITE GROWS A newly revised and expanded WREN website is waiting for your visit. We’re at our old address, but have a complete new look and are ready for your comments and input. Go to http: www.palwv.org/wren/ and check out the changes including: a list of all WREN steering committee members and addresses for those who can provide resource information for you, resource lists - what’s available through the WREN Resource Center and elsewhere, current and back issues of Water Policy News, a list of all local water education projects funded through LWVPA-CEF, upcoming events, and a feedback page for you to send us info on your activities. We also have links to related websites. Be sure and add your comments after you visit. WREN COMMITTEE HEARS FROM KELLOGG REPRichard Foster, Vice President for Programs of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, met with the WREN Steering Committee recently to discuss future funding directions of the Foundation. Funding for water projects will be tied to rural development, food sustainability and land use planning areas of their funding priorities. A smaller amount of funding will go to projects dealing with leadership development, information systems for non-government organizations, family, neighborhood and community issues and programs which capitalize on the diversity of their partners. The Foundation has always been willing to work with coalitions of grassroots organizations which are developing innovative projects. For more information, call the Foundation at 616-968-1611 and ask to speak to a project specialist in one of the above areas. BUCKS COUNTY WORKSHOP REACHES 100Wellhead protection was a popular topic in Bucks County on September 26 as over 100 people gathered to hear presentations on how municipalities can protect water supplies and the importance of involving the community in planning for protection. The workshop was sponsored by the Bucks County Planning Commission and funded in part by a grant from the PA Groundwater Policy Education Project, which also sponsors the Water Resources Education Network (WREN). Participants were particularly pleased with the amount of information provided and wanted to learn more about wellhead protection and implement what they had learned in their communities. Call Dennis Liwrone, 215-345-3400 for info. GIS (GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS) INFO AVAILABLE ON CD-ROMIf you have access to a computer with a CD-ROM drive, you can explore the data available through a Geographic Information System (GIS). A “sampler” CD-ROM has been developed by PA Dept. of Environmental Protection and others to demonstrate, in an easy-to-use format, the limitless opportunities of this technology. The CD-ROM allows the professional, novice or student to electronically explore the nearly 45,000 square miles of PA, navigate the major rivers, and perform host of other activities by examining the geographic bounty of Pennsylvania. The sampler CD-ROM may be borrowed from the WREN Resource Center. Call 1-800-692-7281 for information & computer requirements. DRINKING WATER TOOLS VIDEOCONFERENCE PLANNED FOR MARCHA national videoconference, “Tools for Drinking Water Protection,” is being planned for March 19, 1997 by the League of Women Voters Education Fund. You can participate by arranging local downlink sites, recruiting audiences and facilitating local site meetings. The national video conference is designed to be a catalyst for you to assemble community leaders, planners, citizens, business people and water officials to develop workable drinking water protection plans for your area. Local involvement is key to a successful program. Planning for a local site should begin soon. Information on how to arrange for a downlink and plan a local workshop is available from the WREN Resource Center, 1-800-692-7281. A conference Internet homepage starts October 15: http:\\www.drinking water.org; this site provides information on the conference and can also be used to submit questions to national experts before, during and after the conference. If you plan a local downlink, please let the WREN Resource Center know so we can publicize all PA locations. FINAL DEMO WATER SUPPLY AREA SIGNS GO UPThe last in a series of demonstration Water Supply Area signs funded by the WREN project through its grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation were put up in Mt. Joy Township, Lancaster County this summer. The signs protect the drinking water supplies for four municipalities. Other areas that have benefitted from the demonstration project include: White Haven in Luzerne County, Brookville in Jefferson County, Barkeyville and Rouseville in Venango County, Montoursville in Lycoming County, 11 groundwater systems in Allegheny County, and several systems in Bedford County near Breezewood. Other signs have gone up around the state funded by the communities that benefit as this demonstration project has shown the effectiveness of the signs. To find out what you need to do to protect your water supply with Water Supply Area signs, call Judy Muehl of PA Rural Water Association at 717-367-5854. PRWA KICKS OFF YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROJECTJudy Muehl, PA Rural Water Association’s groundwater technician, is working on a new program to train leaders of youth volunteer groups on protecting groundwater sources and working with their community water system. She is planing six workshops for leaders of youth groups, to introduce them to programs they can develop with their groups. She’d like to hear from local leaders interested in hosting a workshop in their area. Call 1-800-653-PRWA for more information on the program. SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT PASSAGE PROVIDES NEW TOOLS FOR WATER PROTECTIONIn a new approach to drinking water protection, the recently passed federal Safe Drinking Water Act requires water suppliers to tell their customers what is in their water supply. Reaction from suppliers has been mixed with some believing this is another unnecessary regulatory burden that will mean nothing to their customers and other believing customers will benefit from knowing more about their drinking water. For a good summary of the Act prepared by Richard Fox of the Joint Legislative Conservation Committee, call the WREN Resource Center, 1-800-692-7281. EPA PROPOSES REGS FOR PA STREAMSThe federal EPA recently published regulations to protect water quality in PA’s lakes and streams. The proposed regulations are the result of a long series of lawsuits and negotiations between the state and federal governments and environmental groups. EPA was ordered by a federal judge to develop a program for PA after the PA program was determined to be inadequate, particularly as it relates to streams that are not presently included in the state’s “Special Protection” program, the program that protects especially clean waters. A public hearing on the proposed regs will be held October 16 in Harrisburg. Meanwhile, the state is working on a reg package of its own to meet EPA’s standards. For information on the state program call Dan Drawbaugh at: 717-787-2666. For a copy of the proposed federal regulations, call 215-566-5717. Resources . . .HANDBOOK FOR MUNICIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCILS (PA Environmental Council, 70 pp, 1996) explains the role and responsibilities of EACs, give details on many projects they can take and includes model EAC ordinances and bylaws. Available free from PEC, 1-800-322-9214. THE WELLHEAD PROTECTION PROGRAM IN PA: AN OVERVIEW (PA DEP, 4 pp, 1996) provides an overview of the wellhead protection concept and state program. Available free from DEP Division of Drinking Water Management, 717-772-4018. DISINFECTION OF HOME WELLS AND SPRINGS (PA DEP, 2 pp, 1996) describes procedure for temporarily treating bacteriological contamination of home wells. Available free from DEP Division of Drinking Water Management, 717-772-4018. NEW WELL PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS (PA DEP, 1 p, 1995) outlines the information needed and basic protection requirements for new public water supply wells. Available free from DEP Division of Drinking Water Management, 717-772-4018. CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND GIARDIA ... ARE THEY IN YOUR DRINKING WATER? (PA Dept. of Environmental Protection, 4-fold brochure, 1995) describes these disease-causing parasites, the illnesses they cause and what do to if their presence in drinking water is suspected. Available free from DEP Division of Drinking Water Management, 717-772-4018. CITIZEN’S GUIDE TO HOME DRINKING WATER TREATMENT DEVICES (PA DEP, 32 pp, 1996) provides objective information on treatment devices for common homeowner well problems. Available free from DEP Division of Drinking Water Management, 717-772-4018. BUILDING BRIDGES: THE WATER POLICY DEBATE IN CHANGING COMMUNITIES (Charles W. Abdalla, Pennsylvania State University, 52 pp., 1995) Discusses the policy issues of “How safe is safe?” and “Allocation of use” and roles and options for local governments. Call 814-865-2562. RIVER RENEWAL - A LOOK AT THE RESTORATION POTENTIAL OF THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER (Delaware Riverkeeper Network, 64 pp, 1996) describes the environmental history of the Schuylkill, the current status of the watershed and potential for restoration, including the role of the Schuylkill riverkeepers. Available free from the Schuylkill Riverkeeper, 1-800-HOME WATERS. (465-3928) OFFICE OF WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PRIMER (US Environmental Protection Agency, 27 pp, 1995) outlines the role of the agency in the control of wastewater and water pollution in the US. Available free from National Small Flows Clearinghouse, 1-800-624-8301. Ask for item #WWBLGN62. S/h charges apply. (NSFC 1996 Guide to Products and Services is now available. Call for a free copy.) SEPTIC SYSTEM BROCHURES, a series of three educational brochures and two special issues of Pipeline newsletter which explain septic system operation and maintenance are available free (up to ten copies) from NSFC, 1-800-624-8301. WEED KILLERS BY THE GLASS (Environmental Working Group, 1996) presents the results of a citizen tap water monitoring program in 29 cities throughout the Midwest during the summer months. The results show widespread contamination of tap water by the widely used herbicides atrazine and cyanazine at levels exceeding federal health guidelines. Available for $20 plus $3 s/h from the EWG, 202- 2332-2592. JUST ADD WATER: VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL HEALTH STANDARDS IN TAP-WATER, 1994-1995, PENNSYLVANIA (Environmental Working Group, 1996) uses EPA data to summarize problems with PA public water supplies. Available from EWG, 202-668-6982 or email: info@ewg.org. PROTECTING OUR GROUNDWATER (US Environmental Protection Agency, brochure, 1995) provides background on groundwater and information on protection along with colorful graphics. Available from 215-566-5655. WELLHEAD PROTECTION - PROGRESS & CHALLENGES (US Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 8 pp. 1996) summarizes wellhead protection activity in the 5 states and District of Columbia which make up Region III. Available from the Groundwater Protection Section, 215-566-5655. PA RESOURCES, a regular publication of the PA Association of Conservation Districts vol. 7, no. 1 includes a special youth feature on water pollution and introduces a yet-to-be-named river otter as a new symbol of clean water. Call PACD 717-236-1006 for a copy.
BAYSCAPES - a 25-minute video and 7 fact sheets, produced by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, show how to protect water quality with back yard and public property gardening practices designed to be environment-friendly. THE CASE OF THE MYSTERIOUS GROUNDWATER a 16-minute educational video produced by PSU Ag and Bio Engineering Dept, that uses animated graphics and creative video techniques to communicate technical concepts about groundwater. This newsletter is a project of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund - WREN. Funded by a grant from the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection
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