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SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY. Overview of Source Water Protection in Berks County. Major sources of contamination included (PA DEP source water assessments Year ??): Abandoned Mine Drainage Agricultural Practices Urban/Suburban Storm Water Runoff Sewage Overflows - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Overview of Source Water Protection in Berks County
• Major sources of contamination included (PA DEP source water assessments Year ??):– Abandoned Mine Drainage– Agricultural Practices– Urban/Suburban Storm Water Runoff– Sewage Overflows– Transportation Accidents
• Protection priorities included:– Land areas within a 5 hour time of travel to an intake– Sub-watersheds along the Schuylkill River and across
the northwestern portion of the county
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Potential Sources of Pollution
Fires & Accidents
Wastewater Discharge Construction
AgricultureRunoff
Dam Sediments
Tire Piles
Sewer Overflows
WildlifeAlgaeRoad Salt
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Berks County Water Intakesin the Schuylkill Watershed
• 8 drinking water utilities have surface water treatment plants– Auburn Borough Municipal Authority (2)– Birdsboro Municipal Authority (4)– Boyertown Municipal Authority (3)– Hamburg Borough (1)– Hamburg Center (3)– Reading Area Water Authority (2)– Wernersville State (2)– Western Berks Water Authority (1)
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Map of Schuylkill River with intakes
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Municipal Roles in Source Water Protection
• Human activity impacts water quality– Development,
farming, roadway and domestic sewerage and other activities can all have negative effects on stream quality
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Population Changes in the Berks County Region Changes in Population 1990 - 2000
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Changes in Developed Lands 1990 - 2000
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%5%
6%
7%
8%
9%L
ittle
Sch
uyl
kill
Up
pe
r S
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ylki
ll
Ma
ide
n C
ree
k
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lpe
ho
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n C
ree
k
Alle
gh
en
y C
ree
k
Mid
dle
Sch
uyl
kill
3
Ha
y C
ree
k
Mo
no
cacy
Cre
ek
Ma
na
taw
ny
Cre
ek
Fre
nch
Cre
ek
Mid
dle
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uyl
kill
2
Pic
keri
ng
Cre
ek
Pe
rkio
me
n C
ree
k
Va
lley
Cre
ek
Mid
dle
Sch
uyl
kill
1
Wis
sah
icko
n C
ree
k
Lo
we
r S
chu
ylki
ll
En
tire
Sch
uyl
kill
Wa
ters
he
d
Majorshed
Ch
ang
e in
Are
a (%
)
Residential Commercial
Downstream
Berks County
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Schuylkill River Landuse & Stream Impairments
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Lower
Sch
uylki
ll
Wiss
ahick
on C
reek
Midd
le Sch
uylkill
1
Valley
Cre
ek
Perkio
men
Cre
ek
Midd
le Sch
uylkill
2
Picker
ing C
reek
Frenc
h Cre
ek
Man
atawny
Cre
ek
Mon
ocacy
Cre
ek
Hay Cre
ek
Allegh
eny C
reek
Midd
le Sch
uylkill
3
Tulpeho
cken
Cre
ek
Maid
en C
reek
Upper S
chuy
lkill
Little
Sch
uylki
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Watershed
% D
evel
op
ed o
r im
pai
red % Developed
% Impaired (2003)
downstream upstream
Urban/ Suburban
Rural (for now)
Agr. AMD
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Berks County Land Cover 2000
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Source Water Protection in the Tulpehocken Creek Region
• Home to over 62,000 people• 66% agriculture, 8% developed, 24% forested• 219 square miles • Blue Marsh Lake is a major
recreational resource for swimming, boating, fishing, hiking and biking
• Western Berks Water Authority Intake, Wernersville Intake
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Impaired Streams Map
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Priority Runoff Protection Areas Tulpehocken and Wernersville Intakes:
• Bern, Penn, Bernville, Jefferson, North Heidelberg, Lower Heidelberg, South Heidelberg, Heidelberg and Marion Townships
• Source Water Protection Resources– The Tulpehocken Creek
Conservation Plan – Source Water Assessments for
Western Berks and Wernersville
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Source Water Protection Zones for Western Berks and Wernersville Intakes
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Priority Protection Areas for the Schuylkill Watershed
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Source Water Protectionin the Maiden Creek Region
• Home to over 37,000 people• 58% agriculture, 4% developed, 34% forested• 216 square miles• Lake Ontelaunee is a major
recreational resource for fishing, hiking and biking
• Lake Ontelaunee and Maiden Creek supply Reading Area Water Authorities drinking water
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Impaired Streams Map
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Priority Runoff Protection Areas for Reading Area Water Authorities Intakes
• Richmond, Greenwich, Perry, Windsor, Albany, Maiden Creek and Ontelaunee Townships
• Source Water Protection Activities– RAWA developing a Source Water Protection Plan– Kutztown developing a Wellhead Protection Plan– Schuylkill Action Network implementing
streambank restoration projects in the watershed.
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Priority Protection Areas for the Schuylkill Watersheds
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Source Water Protection in theMonocacy and Manatawny Region
• Home to over 33,000 people• 53% agriculture, 5% developed, 41% forested• 117 square miles• Ironstone Creek,
Popodickon Reservoir and Trout Run Reservoir supply drinking water to the Boyertown Water Authority
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Impaired Streams Map
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Priority Runoff Protection Areas for Reading Area Water Authorities Intakes
Earl, Colebrookdale and lower Pike Townships and the Borough of Boyertown
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Source Water ProtectionZones for Boyertown
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Priority Protection Areasfor the Schuylkill Watershed
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Source Water Protection in the Hay and Allegheny Region
• Home to 9700 people• 28% agriculture, 4% developed, 67% forested• 4 square miles – • Birdsboro Reservoirs
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Water Intakes and Impaired Streams in the Hay and Allegheny Watershed Region
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Priority Runoff Protection Areas – Birdsboro Municipal Authority
• Hay Creek Watershed – Robeson, Union and New Morgan Townships
• Birdsboro Municipal Authority is developing a Source Water Protection Plan, will want to work with Municipal Officials
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Source Water Protection Zones, Birdsboro and Pottstown Intakes
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Priority Protection Areas for Schuylkill Watershed
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Practicing Source Water Protection …
• Immediate Intake Areas (less than ½ mile upstream from intake) – preserve open land/buffers
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Practicing Source Water Protection … (Cont.)
• High Priority Areas (less than 5 hour travel time and within ¼ mile of streambank)– preserve buffers, connect buffers, reclaim buffers– enhanced storm water Best Management Practices
• redevelopment should include BMPs• public properties have “gold standard” BMPs
– stricter controls for runoff (ordinances) (no buffer bypassing)
– limit development to low impact activities, redirect to areas further from the drinking water intake
– no floodplain development (FEMA buyouts)
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Practicing Source Water Protection …
• Moderate Priority Areas (between 5 and 25 hours of travel time) – Continue to preserve buffers whenever possible– General development preferred, with buffer
restrictions
• Connection of High Priority Areas from one intake to another
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council
Practicing Source Water Protection … (Cont.)
• Other Items To Consider– Synergy with regional “trails”– Sewer system capacity and sewer overflows– Coordination with Storm Water Requirements– “Green Infrastructure”– Costs of fixing impaired streams (100’s of $$$
millions)
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
What’s In Your Water Supply?
Environmental Advisory Council Network, A Project of the PA Environmental Council http://www.eacnetwork.org
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION IN BERKS COUNTY
Credits
This (workshop, brochure, video, etc.) has been funded (or partially funded) by
the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund through a Section 319 Federal Clean
Water Act grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency
administered by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
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