The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA  applauds the Erie and Greene County Commissioners for adopting a Clean Water Counts resolution, calling on state officials to make clean water a top priority for the Keystone State.

Since launching this initiative, Berks, Luzerne, Westmoreland, Wyoming, York, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Fayette, Cumberland, Washington, Erie, and now Greene counties have all joined the effort and have passed resolutions.

“Healthy families, strong communities, and a thriving Pennsylvania economy depend on clean water,” said Harry Campbell, CBF’s Pennsylvania Executive Director. “We applaud and thank the Erie and Greene County Commissioners for publicly voicing their support for clean water in the Keystone State.”

CBF embarked on the Clean Water Counts campaign in response to the Department of Environmental Protection’s most recent statewide surface waters assessment.

Pennsylvania has 19,761 miles of streams polluted by abandoned mine drainage, agricultural and stormwater runoff and over 37,761 acres of lakes that do not meet water quality standards, according to DEP’s latest water quality assessment report.

That same report said since 2007, Pennsylvania has restored just 72 miles of stream to support aquatic life and 49 stream miles to use as potable water supplies, the two cleanest standards.  Just 853 acres of lakes were restored to support aquatic life and none to use as potable water supplies.

DEP also reported that the top pollution sources are agricultural and urban/suburban runoff, and abandoned mine drainage.

More than 1,700 miles of waterways flow through Erie County, but more than 200 of those miles are polluted. The leading cause is urban/suburban polluted runoff damaging more than 90 miles of waterways. Pollution from agriculture ranks second, polluting 60 miles of rivers and streams.

More than 1,200 miles of waterways flow through Greene County, but more than 200 of those miles are polluted. The leading cause of pollution is agriculture, polluting 60 miles of rivers and streams.

Through public education and engagement, CBF is hoping to increase awareness of water pollution issues, like those in Erie and Greene counties and elsewhere in the Keystone State. The goal is to urge state officials to make clean water a priority and commit the needed funding and programs to ensure that the waters that we rely on—for drinking and household uses, recreation, and to grow our food—all meet clean water standards.

In addition to calling on local officials to pass resolutions, CBF is asking residents to show their support by signing the Clean Water Counts online petition. It takes only a few minutes, but signatures will go a long way toward demonstrating the importance of clean water to our elected officials.

To learn more about the campaign, visit CBF-PA’s Clean Water Counts webpage.

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1/26/2015