On January 9, 2014, newly formed public water supply coalitions had an opportunity to meet with Marcus Kohl, Regional Director of the Northcentral Department of Environmental Protection Office in Williamsport, Lycoming County.

The public waters supply coalitions represented at this meeting by their chairpersons, were: Jennifer Whisner, Columbia Montour Source Water Protection Coalition; Carl Cox, Tioga County Source Water Protection Coalition; Mike Savage, Central PA Source Water Alliance for Protection; Eric Moore, North Central Source Water Protection Alliance; and John McLaughlin, Triple Divide Watershed Coalition. Penn State Extension Water Resources Educator, Jim Clark, was also able to participate in this meeting. 

The main discussion centered on the recharge delineation zones that are identified when a public water supply completes a source water protection plan. These zones identify the watershed for public water supply sources and this area needs to be protected to protect the water supply.

The coalitions were asking for notifications when a permit is granted by DEP in these recharge zones. Director Kohl thanked the coalition members for their important work and was willing to discuss several possible solutions to improving the permit communication process.

In Tioga and Potter County, public water supply coalitions have worked with Emergency Management Agencies and the DEP to implement a spill response system. If a spill occurs, in a public water supply recharge zone, in those counties, EMA notifies the PA DEP and the PA DEP then notifies the public water supply operator. The operator can then do what he or she can do to protect the water supply and the public.

(Written By: James A. Clark, Extension Water Resources Educator, Renewable Natural Resources Extension Team, Penn State Extension, McKean County, reprinted from Penn State Extension’s Watershed Winds newsletter.)

4/7/2014