The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced a Source Water Protection Coalition roundtable with community leaders and advocates in Elk, Jefferson and McKean counties, as part of an effort to further protect local water supply sources.

The April 2, meeting is aimed at public water suppliers, but is open to any municipality, authority or individual in the three counties. It will be at 10 a.m. at the Elk County Office of Emergency Services at 653 Montmorenci Road, Ridgway, Pa.

“This is an opportunity for communities to work together to provide a larger voice to ensure that water resources are protected now and preserved for future generations,” DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch said.

The Source Water Protection program is a community-based, voluntary effort to protect drinking water sources used by community water systems. Local SWP programs are effective tools for public health protection, water supply security and managing operational and capital costs through improved and maintained source water quality.

“Many benefits can be realized through a coalition of this nature,” Burch said. “The benefits could include cost sharing; resource sharing; familiarization with similar water systems; shared education and outreach approaches; partnerships; and increased communication between agencies, businesses and organizations affiliated with our public drinking water sources.”

For more information about the meeting or DEP’s Source Water Protection Program, contact Jacob Moore, DEP Northwest Regional Office, at 814-332-6176 or send email to: jacmoore@pa.gov.

3/18/2013