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.

There is funding to conduct 100 water samples in McKean County, to date they have received 48 so there is still room.  The water samplings will be conducted May 14, 2012 throughJune 22, 2012 with a mandatory educational workshop to be held on Wednesday, July 11^th, 2012from 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.   You may also contact Heather McKean, McKean County Conservation District’s Watershed Conservationist at 814-887-4003 orhsmckean@mckeancountypa.org.  Applications can be obtained at the Clearfield County Conservation District located at 511 Spruce Street in Clearfield or online at www.headwaterspa.org.

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.