On September 30, PA American Water helps celebrate Source Water Protection Week-- September 29 to October 5-- by offering the public resources and information focused on helping customers do their part to provide safe, clean, reliable water supplies.

“Though we’ve come a long way in terms of our water treatments and services, there’s still a lot of challenges to overcome – the hardest of those being that water is often taken for granted,” said Kristi English, Pennsylvania American Water’s source water protection program manager. “Every day, people turn on their taps to bathe; brush their teeth; and get water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Unfortunately, unless they notice something unusual, water quality and availability are not considered. That’s where this campaign comes in – we want to increase awareness of the value of water and the importance of caring for our water resources.”

Throughout the week, Pennsylvania American Water is emphasizing the importance of protecting our water sources as a crucial first step of the drinking water treatment process, with the goal of generating awareness about the need to maintain quality and conserve the supply of the world’s drinking water.

Learn More About Water

Pennsylvania American Water is also encouraging the public to learn more about how source water is treated and protected from contaminants by watching educational video content:

-- Take a behind the scenes look at the water treatment process via a virtual plant tour.

-- Learn about how a new technology is keeping algal blooms at bay in Pennsylvania American Water reservoirs.

-- Find out what it’s like to be inside a 1-million-gallon water storage tank.

“The key to making source water protection efforts successful is for our dedication to trickle down to those individuals, businesses and communities we serve,” added English. “Everyone lives in a watershed and has a role in protecting it.”

Using Water Wisely

To commemorate Source Water Protection Week, Pennsylvania American Water is also asking its customers – and the community at large – to take the following actions this week and consider putting them into action as year-round practice:

-- Be conscious of daily water use and take steps in the home to be water smart and help preserve this precious natural resource, which can also have an impact on reducing monthly bills.

-- Be sure that leaking pipes and faucets – indoors and outdoors – are repaired.

-- Take care in the use of garden, lawn, garage and other home treatment or cleaning products and ensure that they do not inadvertently find their way into water sources.

-- Dispose of chemicals, unused medicines or other potentially harmful products properly, and do not put them directly into home drains, the sewer, street drains or the lawn.

For more ideas on how to help protect our source water resources, view this short tip video or visit Pennsylvania American Water’s Watershed Protection and Wise Water Use webpages.

Visit the Source Water Protection Week webpage to learn more.

Click Here for the entire announcement.

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- NRCS-Pennsylvania Announces Sign-Up For Conservation Easement Programs  [PaEN]

-- USDA NRCS-PA: Farm Conservation Funding Opportunities For FY 2025

-- 200+ Attend Delaware River Watershed Forum In Bethlehem - The Power Of Collaboration  [PaEN]

-- Choose Clean Water Coalition Now Accepting Applications For Young Environmental Professionals Of Color Mentorship Program  [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Healthy Waters Newsletter Highlights Funding Opportunities; County Clean Water Projects; Accomplishments  [PaEN]

-- PA American Water Celebrates Source Water Protection Week With Education Program  [PaEN]

-- PA Environmental Council Will Start Accepting Applications Oct. 21 For Protect Your Drinking Water Grants In Southeast PA Funded By Aqua Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Receives Grant To Rehab De Sale Passive Mine Drainage Treatment System;  Participates In WV Mine Drainage Conference; Learn More About Datashed.org  [PaEN]

-- US Forest Service Watershed Forestry Team Hosts Webinar On Riparian Forest Buffer Success And Innovation Begins Oct. 10  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Center For Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training Hosts Oct. 23 Webinar On Identifying Environmentally Sensitive Areas On The Farm - Wetlands  [PaEN]

-- Public Comments Invited On Draft Juniata River Watershed Conservation Plan By Western PA Conservancy [PaEN]

-- Western PA Conservancy, Partners Invite Residents Of French Creek Watershed To Comment On Conservation Plan At Oct 22 Meeting In Saegertown, Crawford County  [PaEN]

-- Conservation District Invites Pike County Citizen Scientists To Participate In Study Of Microplastics  [PaEN]

-- Watershed Success Spotlight: Allegheny Land Trust + Chalfant Run-Thompson Run Watershed Assn., Allegheny County  [PaEN]

-- Stroud Water Research Center Receives $141,000 Grant From Green Mountain Energy Sun Club For New 55-Kilowatt Rooftop Solar Energy System  [PaEN]

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Announces Winners Of Confluence: Land, Water, Wildlife Photo Contest; ARTery Gallery Exhibition  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Chesapeake Bay Cleanup At A Crossroads; New Path Or Stay The Course?

-- StateCollege.com: Adam Smith, US Fish & Wildlife Service Biologist, Named Outstanding Coldwater Conservationist Professional By PA Council Of Trout Unlimited

-- Episcopal News Service: Lancaster Clean Water Partners Grant Will Help Manheim Church Do Its Part To Clean Up Chesapeake Bay 

-- Altoona Mirror: Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, PA Interfaith Power & Light  Volunteers Prepare To Give Away 4,500+ Native Plants Requested By Individuals

-- Pottsville Republican Herald Guest Essay: Riparian Buffers Necessary In Age Of Stronger Storms - By Alliance for The Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

-- Susquehanna University: Grant From Richard King Mellon Foundation To Support Freshwater Research Institute

-- The Daily Item: Susquehanna University Receives $600,000 Mellon Foundation Grant To Fund Freshwater Research

-- KYW: Philadelphia Water Dept. Rebukes Report Claiming Stormwater Management System Is Overwhelmed By Climate Change

-- Rep. Owlett Introduces Stream Cleaning Bill To Help Protect Against Flooding [But Do These Bills Make The Problem Worse?  Read real story here]

-- WNEP: Schuylkill County Conservancy Hosts 100 5th Graders For Outdoor Learning Day

-- KYW: Delaware RiverKeeper Files Lawsuit Against EPA for Failing To Protect Atlantic Sturgeon

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Oct. 4 RiverWatch Video Report

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Aquatic Plant Survey [Video]

-- AP: Push To Map Great Lakes Bottom Gains Momentum Amid Promises Effort Will Help Fishing, Shipping

[Posted: September 30, 2024]

10/7/2024