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October
1995
Water
Policy News
Newsletter of the Water Resources Education Network
In this Issue
GRANTS AWARDED TO LOCAL COALITIONS
Continuing its focus on improving local policy making to protect groundwater,
the Pennsylvania Groundwater Policy Education Project recently awarded
funding to six local groups who will conduct wellhead protection education
activities. Funding for the projects comes from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region III.
Groups receiving funding are the Bedford County Planning Commission,
the Bucks County Planning Commission, the Lebanon County Conservation
District, the Lehigh/Northampton Joint Planning Commission, the League
of Women Voters of Susquehanna County and the Groundwater Coalition
of Washington County. Each of these groups will form coalitions with
other local organizations to undertake a variety of educational activities.
In Lebanon County, the Conservation District will work with the county
commissioners, the Lebanon County Small Water Systems Team, Myerstown
Water Authority, the County Planning Department, Penn State Cooperative
Extension and the League of Women Voters of Lebanon County. The coalition's
program includes a wellhead protection workshop to provide information
on groundwater resources and planning for wellhead protection. Contact:
Charles Wertz 717-272-3377
In Susquehanna County, the League of Women Voters, Association of
Township Supervisors and Penn State Cooperative Extension will present
information on groundwater and water quality issues at the Annual Meeting
of the County Association of Township Supervisors. The coalition will
also publish two issues of a newsletter, Waterwise, which will be mailed
to all municipal and county officials and community organizations. Contact:
Ruth Wilmarth 717-289-4226
The Washington County Groundwater Coalition has been working together
for four years on groundwater education activities. The coalition includes
the League of Women Voters, Penn State Cooperative Extension, the Conservation
District, the Earth Day Coalition and F.O.R.E.(Friends of Our Resources
and Environment). The group plans a traveling exhibit which will be
set up and demonstrated at various locations in the fall of 1995 and
spring of 1996. The exhibit will include a groundwater flow model and
water testing kits. A new quarterly newsletter is also planned, targeted
to local officials and community groups. The Coalition will also repeat
and expand its very successful Groundwater Festival, which hosted close
to 1000 sixth graders in May 1995. Funds for the 1996 Festival have
been raised locally. Contact: Joan Jessen 412-941-9370
Three counties that have received grants from DEP to develop wellhead
protection plans will use funds from GPEP to extend their public outreach
programs. In Bedford County, the Planning Commission will work with
the Hyndman Borough Council and the Londonderry Township Board of Supervisors
to present a seminar series on groundwater and how to protect it. They
will also prepare educational brochures to distribute at the seminars
and throughout the grant period. A Groundwater Advisory Committee will
be formed to help answer questions from the community. Contact: Jeffry
Kloss 814-623-4827.
In Bucks County, the Planning Commission and the Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC) for the Bucks County Water Supply and Model Wellhead
Protection Study will work together to present an educational seminar
that will focus on the wellhead protection area management techniques
recommended in the study. This seminar will complement other educational
activities already planned, including brochures, presentations and news
articles. The TAC includes a variety of groups including private organizations,
water suppliers, municipal officials and representatives of county,
regional and state agencies. Contact: Suzanne Forbes 215-345-3419.
The Lehigh/Northampton Joint Planning Commission will work with the
Wildlands Conservancy, the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association and
the Bushkill Stream Conservancy, water suppliers and the Sewage Enforcement
Officers Association to plan a wellhead protection seminar for public
officials and citizens. Contact: Geoffrey Reese 610-265-4544.
COMMUNITIES WRAP UP EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
For the past year, community groups in Washington, McKean /Potter,
Lancaster, Jefferson and Fulton/Juniata counties have carried out a
variety of activities designed to inform their citizens about local
water resource issues.
Washington County Groundwater Festival a Hit
The Washington County Groundwater Coalition has won statewide recognition
for its very successful Children's Groundwater Festival, held May 10
at California University. Close to 900 sixth graders from four school
districts attended the Festival with their teachers; 150 volunteers
helped with the program. Prior to the Festival, students sent letters
of invitation to their municipal officials, several of whom attended.
A 14minute video has been developed and is available from the LWVPA
Water Resource Center (1-800-692-7281). Funding for next year's Festival
has already been received from local sources and schools are lining
up to register their students. The $3000 grant provided by the PA Groundwater
Policy Education Project leveraged an additional $10,000 in volunteer
time and donated services from the community.The Coalition partners
have prepared a notebook on how to organize a Festival. Call Joan Jessen
at 412-941-9370 to purchase a copy.
Lancaster County Focuses on Schools
In Lancaster County, a coalition has been working with teachers and
school students to increase understanding of the importance of groundwater.
Teacher training workshops were well received at Super Science Saturday
in May, as were student workshops for 3rd and 4th graders. Plans are
in the works for a resource center that will include a groundwater flow
model and a variety of educational materials.
Leadership Training Key in Juniata and Fulton Counties
Water resources were the issue under discussion at a series of leadership
training sessions which ended in June. The twelve course graduates in
Juniata and twenty graduates in Fulton are discussing formation of a
Water Issues Task Force and a public meeting sometime in the future.
Jefferson County Plans Public Meeting
Most of the water supply in Jefferson County comes from private wells,
and coalition partners are focusing on ways homeowners can protect their
own wells. A public meeting is planned for early November at which well
testing will be offered and speakers will discuss the sources of pollution
in private wells.
Potter and McKean Take Model to SixCounty Region
Following a successful twocounty training session for local officials
and the public on groundwater resources and wellhead protection, the
Water Resources Councils of Potter and McKean counties are planning
a six county regional meeting on the same subjects. The meeting will
be held in Spring 1996.Call 1-800-692-7281 for contact names for any
of these projects.
WELLHEAD PROTECTION REGULATIONS GO INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 9, 1995
As of October 9, 1995 a new or expanding community water system must
demonstrate that it owns or controls all the land in the Wellhead Protection
Area (WHPA) Zone 1 before a permit can be issued. This will allow the
water supplier to prohibit activities in Zone 1 which could adversely
impact the well. The supplier can no longer store, use or dispose of
any contaminant within WHPA Zone 1 except for chemicals used in the
production or treatment of drinking water. Liquid fossil fuel can no
longer be stored in the WHPA Zone 1 except for emergency supplies and
only where gas is not available. WHPA Zone 1 is the immediate area surrounding
the well, which may range from a radius of 100 to 400 feet depending
on the pumping rate of the well and the type of aquifer the well is
tapping.
This requirement was published in the PA Bulletin on October 8, 1994.
At the same time, criteria were adopted for approval of voluntary local
wellhead protection programs. An approved local WHP program may allow
the water supplier relief from some water quality monitoring requirements.
An approved local program is also necessary in order to erect Water
Supply Area signs to alert passing motorists they are in a water supply
area.Technical assistance for developing a local WHP program is available
from PA Rural Water Association. Call 1-814-353-9302. For more information
on the WHP regulations call DEP Bureau of Water Supply at 717-772-4018.
RESOURCES
EVALUATION OF METHODS FOR DELINEATING AREAS THAT CONTRIBUTE WATER
TO WELLS COMPLETED IN VALLEYFILL AQUIFERS IN PENNSYLVANIA (82 pages)
(Open File Report 92635) and A STRATEGY FOR DELINEATING THE AREA OF
GROUNDWATER CONTRIBUTION TO WELLS COMPLETED IN FRACTURED BEDROCK AQUIFERS
IN PENNSYLVANIA (30 pages) (Water Resources Investigation Report 954033)
(US Geological Survey) prepared in cooperation with the PA Dept. of
Environmental Resources to assist in the development of wellhead protection
programs. Available from USGS, 1-800-426-9000.
CLEANER WATER THROUGH CONSERVATION (US EPA, 61 pages, 1995) discusses
how we use water, how water use affects water quality and describes
efficient water use techniques and cases studies. Available from EPA
Wetlands Protection Hotline 1-800-832-828. (EPA-841-B-95-002)
THE SELFHELP HANDBOOK FOR SMALL TOWN WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS
(Small Towns Environment Program STEP, 1995) shares experiences from
actual projects of STEP which helps communities solve water problems
affordably. Includes case studies, drawings, sample forms all in layman's
terms. Available for $21.95 plus $3 s/h from The Rensselaerville Institute,
Rensselaerville, NY 12147. 518-797-3783.
DESIGNING OPEN SPACE SUBDIVISIONS: A PRACTICAL STEPBYSTEP APPROACH
(Natural Lands Trust, 1994) a "howto" guide to open space
development for landowners, public officials, and developers. Open space
development allows a community to preserve important natural features
while accommodating growth. Available for $25 from the Natural Lands
Trust, 1031 Palmer's Mill Road, Media, PA 19063.
SAVE OUR LAND, SAVE OUR TOWNS (Preservation Pennsylvania, 1995) "Pennsylvania's
rural and small town citizens who are working together toward a local
vision will be fortified by this important book." Available from
RB Books, 1006 N. Second St., Harrisburg, PA 17102. 717-232-7944.
PENNSYLVANIA LAND CONSERVATION HANDBOOK: A GUIDE FOR CONSERVATION
ORGANIZATIONS, MUNICIPALITIES AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS (Allegheny Land
Trust, 1995) in notebook format, describes the tools of land conservation,
addresses the relationships between conservation efforts and taxes and
deals with liability issues associated with conservation and recreation.
Available for $10 from the Allegheny Land Trust, 441 Smithfield St.,
2nd Flr, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2219. 412-350-4666.
TAKING A NEW TACK ON NONPOINT WATER POLLUTION (Report of the National
Forum on Nonpoint Source Pollution, 1995) discusses the process of the
Forum and the recommendations and projects produced. A summary of the
report is also available. The full report is available for $14 from
Terrene Institute, 1717 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.
THE GREAT WATER HOOKUP: COORDINATING FEDERAL REGULATORY AND FINANCING
POLICY FOR SMALL WATER SYSTEMS discusses the problems of small systems
and focuses on programs in seven states, including PA. Available for
$13 from Rapoza Associates, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 850, Washington,
DC 20004. 202-393-5225.
THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER STATUS REPORT (Interstate Ground Water Management
Network, 1995) provides an uptodate assessment of the nation's groundwater
quality and the effectiveness of current programs to protect the resource.
Available for $30, with seven color maps, or $20, without the maps,
from the Network, 1-800-762-0190.
WREN JOINS THE INFO SUPERHIGHWAY
Good news... WREN is developing an automated mailing list so that
we can communicate more quickly and efficiently. For those of you who
have never subscribed to a "list" before, it is really quite
simple. All you need is a modem and the ability to send and receive
email. To subscribe to the list, send an email message to:
majordomo@philadelphia.libertynet.org
In the subject area or box,
type: x
Your message should simply be:
subscribe lwvwren
Your email address will automatically be picked up from your message
and used to send you all future communications from WREN. We'll begin
by providing Water Policy News through the list and later add other
information. We will send further instructions when it becomes possible
for you to post messages of interest to others.
If you have any comments or suggestions for us as we try to enter
the electronic age, please put pen to paper and write us at 226 Forster
Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102.
Water Policy News is also available on the LWVPA's Internet home page.
The URL or location is: http://palwv.org You'll find us under "Citizen
Education Projects" Water Resources Center.
CONFERENCES
October 18 Lincoln, NESOURCE WATER PROTECTION: MAKING THE CONNECTION
FROM AQUIFER TO TAP. 1995 annual fall symposium of The Groundwater Foundation.
Contact 1-800-858-4844.
November 1921 Oakbrook, IL1995 GROUNDWATER GUARDIAN CONFERENCE. Contact
1-800-858-4844.
VIDEOS
WATER FOLLIES: Seven minute animated video explains conservation by
comically illustrating improper uses of water.
WASHINGTON COUNTY CHILDREN'S GROUNDWATER FESTIVAL: A 14 minute video
taped at the first festival, May 10, 1995, includes information about
the organization of the festival.
LUCK ISN'T ENOUGH: THE FIGHT FOR CLEAN WATER: Award winning, 12minute
nontechnical explanation of polluted runoff and what people can do to
prevent it. Produced by U. Conn. Cooperative Extension Service.Call
18006927281 to borrow videos.
CONGRATULATIONS to the first Pennsylvania Groundwater Guardian Communities:Franklin
Twp., Adams Co.Kutztown Boro, Berks Co.Antis Twp., Blair CountyLancaster
CountyMcKean & Potter Cos.Washington County
LOCAL ROLE IMPORTANT SAY CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS
"Water Resources Management for Pennsylvania's Future,"
was the theme of the League of Women Voters 1995 Common Ground Conference.
The laws and institutional structures governing the way water is used
and shared in Pennsylvania were described by speakers Timothy Weston
and Joseph Dellapenna. How those laws and structures might be improved
were discussed in three breakout sessions on "permitting,"
"government structures and interrelationships" and "municipal
responsibilities for land use and water supply planning."
Participants called for coordinated planning at the local, county,
regional, state and basin levels. They also recognized that local governments
need technical and financial resources, as well as public support, to
implement effective water policies. Regional workshops are being planned
in cooperation with the Water Resources Education Network to bring together
stakeholders to identify areas of agreement for managing the water resources
of Pennsylvania. Contact Betty Conner, 717-274-3826, or Beth Marshall,
412-465-4687, for information.
WATER POLICY NEWS Water Policy News is published quarterly by the
League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund for the
Water Resources Education Network (WREN), a project of the LWVPA-CEF
funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.
The goal of the WREN project is to provide information to local and
state groups and individuals interested in improving local policy-making
for water resource protection. Local and state wide projects and activities
that focus on water resource education will be highlighted in each issue
of Water Policy News. News of resources available, upcoming conferences
and workshops and state level policy proposals will also be provided.
Articles about water education activities are solicited from the readers
of Water Policy News.
Send newsletter items to Editor: Edith Stevens, R. D. 1, Box 444,
Cresco, PA 18326. To receive this free newsletter or learn more about
the resources available to assist local groups interested in water policy
education activities call the LWVPA at 1-800-692-7281 or write 226 Forster
Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Please send address changes to the LWVPA
office.
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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