Free Private Drinking Water Supply Testing Available

$150,000 has been secured through the Colcom Foundation’s grant program “Marcellus Environmental Fund” for the Headwaters Quality Drinking Water Project to provide low income families in Jefferson, Elk, Potter, Cameron, Clinton, Centre, and McKean Counties with funding to secure chain of custody water sample analyses of their private water supplies prior to Marcellus Shale Gas Well Drilling activities. Additionally, we are providing mandatory educational workshops and material explaining how to interpret the water quality results, when do things become toxic, and what the homeowner should do in case something does happen to their water supply. RC&D will partner with various organizations and agencies including PA-DEP, Penn State Extension and the local school districts and conservation districts.

The first set of water samplings will take place in Jefferson and Clearfield Counties. Testing will be conducted October 24, 2011 through December 2, 2011 with a mandatory educational workshop following. For folks living in Jefferson County, the workshop will be held on Thursday, December 15th, 2011 from 5-7 pm, location to be determined. For Clearfield County, the workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 from 5-7 pm, location to be determined.

The second set of water samplings will take place in Elk and Centre Counties. Testing will be conducted January 9, 2012 through February 17, 2012 with a mandatory educational workshop following. For folks living in Elk County, the workshop will be held on Thursday, March 8th, 2012 from 5-7 pm, location to be determined. For Centre County, the workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 from 5-7 pm, location to be determined.

The third set of water samplings will take place in Cameron and Clinton Counties. Testing will be conducted March 12, 2012 through April 20, 2012 with a mandatory educational workshop following. For folks living in Cameron County, the workshop will be held on Thursday, May 10th, 2012 from 5-7 pm, location to be determined. For Clinton County, the workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 from 5-7 pm, location to be determined.

The fourth set of water samplings will take place in McKean and Potter Counties. Testing will be conducted May 14, 2012 through June 22, 2012 with a mandatory educational workshop following. For folks living in McKean County, the workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 11th, 2012 from 5-7 pm, location to be determined. For Potter County, the workshop will be held on Thursday, July 12th, 2012 from 5-7 pm, location to be determined.

For more information contact Kelly Williams, Clearfield County Conservation District’s Watershed Conservationist at 814-765-2629 or kwilliamsccd@atlanticbbn.net. Applications can be obtained at the Clearfield County Conservation District located at 511 Spruce Street in Clearfield or online at www.headwaterspa.org. They are also available at the McKean County Conservation District at 17137 Route 6, Smethport and at the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in Coudersport.

The Headwaters Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council is tasked with providing local leadership to improve the economic, environmental, and social well-being of the people of Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, and Potter counties in north-central Pennsylvania. The Headwaters Resources Conservation and Development Council is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and an equal opportunity employer.