CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners endorsed the Clearfield County Conservation District’s Growing Greener Grant application for the implementation of a source water monitoring program at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
Kelly Williams, watershed specialist, said they’d be seeking approximately $187,433 for the assistance of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to install a combination of continuous data sondes and conductivity loggers on surface water sources, springs and groundwater wells.
Since 2009, the county’s municipal authorities have partnered with the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, the Clearfield County Planning Commission and the district to have Source Water Protection Plans developed, Williams said.
According to her, these plans provide authorities with “detailed delineations” of their water protection areas, identification of potential contaminants, protection area management methods, contingency planning tools and methods of protection for any identified new sources.
“The (county’s) source water monitoring program is going to take the next step in the source water protection process and begin implementing these plans,” she said. Williams said authorities would be provided with the equipment necessary to develop surface and groundwater monitoring programs for their drinking water sources.
Williams said at the present time, the Clearfield, DuBois, Pike Township, Houtzdale, Covington, Karthaus, Girard and Beccaria, Coalport and Irvona municipal authorities have developed water protection plans and approximately 45,000 customers are served by these water systems.
Both the data sondes and conductivity loggers operate continuously and provide authorities with baseline water quality readings for their water sources. In addition, the equipment acts as an “early warning system” for any potential contamination event.
“Ultimately, we’re hoping this project will lead to the formation of a county-wide Source Water Protection Coalition, consisting of all the drinking water suppliers. It would allow them opportunities to network with one another and give a united voice for the protection of clean drinking water throughout Clearfield County,” Williams said.
Commissioner Mark B. McCracken pointed out the installation of the equipment wouldn’t only signal the “slightest event” within a water source, but also allow them to see if and how, for example, the Marcellus Shale gas industry affects the water systems.
“We now have a Wild Well Control (response team) here in the county . . . But in case, there’s something building, we can nip it pretty quickly. I think this is a great development for the county,” said Commissioner John. A. Sobel.