Governor’s Excellence Award To Triple Divide Group

Coming on the heels of U. S. Environmental Protection Agency recognition earlier this year, Potter County’s Triple Divide Watershed Coalition has been chosen to receive a 2012 Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence.

Sharing in the award at the county level are the Commissioners, Planning Commission, Conservation District and Emergency Services.

Also honored are Potter County Education Council, Penn State Extension, and public water suppliers serving Shinglehouse, Ulysses, Roulette, Austin, Coudersport, Galeton, Genesee, Charles Cole Memorial Hospital and Northern Tier Children’s Home. Technical assistance has been provided by Mark Stephens, a geologist with the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection, and other organizations.

Potter County is being recognized for “Building Community Partnerships,” based on the volunteer coalition that has 100-percent support from public water suppliers in the county. The organization’s purpose is to work collaboratively to identify efficiencies, lower operational costs, and protect the public drinking water resources of the area.

Potter is the first Pennsylvania county to have an approved Source Water Protection Plan for all of its public water supplies. The coalition came together to implement those plans. All 19 water sources were tested to establish a baseline and to identify any quality issues.

Other benefits of the coalition are bulk purchasing of supplies and lab services, shared personnel, improved public education and effective advocacy.