Pennsylvania Friday moved closer to joining 48 other states which have in place drinking water well construction standards, when the House passed House Bill 343, said Rep. Ron Miller (R-York), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and prime sponsor of the bill.

“More than three million Pennsylvanians rely on private wells for drinking water,” said Rep. Miller. “Our citizens have a right to clean drinking water, and my bill addresses the health risks associated with an unsafe water supply.”

House Bill 343 would require all new water wells to be constructed in accordance with standards established by the Environmental Quality Board. The legislation would also order decommissioning of all abandoned wells.

“I commend the local water and municipal authorities around the state that have taken into account the best interests of their residents and already established their own standards,” Rep. Miller added. “These affected counties and municipalities would be allowed to keep in place their current water well regulations.”

Rep. Miller also addressed misconceptions about the bill that have been used against him in the past and are frequently referred to by opponents.

“Nowhere in my bill are water metering, fees for private water usage, shutting off existing wells or regulation of water usage mentioned,” Rep. Miller pointed out. “The first attempt to move this legislation 12 years ago was shut down by a campaign of misinformation based on these beliefs, and these allegations are untrue.

“We are simply looking to protect our citizens’ right to safe drinking water going forward.”

A summary and House Fiscal Note are available.

7/7/2014