Workshops Held For Area Well, Spring Owners

Dozens of well and spring owners in Potter County turned out for a workshop held last week at the Gunzburger Building in Coudersport to help them better understand the results of tests conducted on their water supplies. Most of those attending had concerns about possible contamination from activities related to shale gas drilling. Penn State water specialists Bryan Swistock (shown) and Jim Clark (Extension educator) presented workshops in Potter, Cameron, McKean and five other counties where pre-drilling water tests were conducted to establish baseline data. A Colcom Foundation grant administered by the Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development Council paid for the tests. Many owners of wells and springs have had their water sources tested in recent months, concerned about potential contamination from nearby gas drilling or other industrial activity. Testing is recommended for all private water sources to establish a baseline water quality profile. It can be valuable in the event of any future compromising of a water source.