"Lack of rainfall, geology bring water restrictions"

By Christina Kristofic, Intelligencer, August 30, 2010:

Geology contributes to regular groundwater shortage problems in the Furlong area.

"Residents blame PBA for dry wells"

By Theresa Hegel, Intelligencer, August 29, 2010:

Last month, Robert Schlitz, 75, turned on the tap at his East Rockhill home, and nothing happened.

After 42 years with no problems, his 90-foot well, which had weathered several droughts, had run dry. He spent nearly $10,000 to drill a 280-foot-deep replacement well.

"Polluted ponds drained at site of fire"

By Christopher Ruvo, Intelligencer, August 29, 2010:

The effort to determine the scope of water pollution in Plumstead continued last week as a contractor for the state began draining two contaminated ponds located near the site of a June 29 fire that destroyed an industrial building.

"Residents get lesson in 'fracking' dangers"

By Annie Tasker, Intelligencer, August 29, 2010:

Dozens of locals gathered in Quakertown Saturday for a discussion on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, a practice that's boomed in recent years and prompted studies on its possible impact on the Delaware River and the 15 million people who rely on it for drinking water.

"Learning the ins and outs of gas drilling"

By Amanda Cregan, Intelligencer, August 27, 2010:

Bucks attorneys gathered Thursday to learn more about lease agreements with companies that are drilling for natural gas.

"Residents question why E. Rockhill wells went dry"

By Erin DuBois, MontgomeryNews.com, August 26, 2010:

For 40 years Robert Schlitz, who lives . . . [on] West Schwenkmill Road in Perkasie, has been able to rely on his well, even filling his 24,000-gallon swimming pool without a sputter. But that all changed July 23 when his approximately 100-foot-deep well went dry.

About the same time, . . . another West Schwenkmill Road resident, who did not wish to comment, discovered that his well had dried up; and neighbors . . . began experiencing intermittent water supply from their wells.

The growing epidemic led well owners to question whether they should blame the hot, dry summer or if a troubling coincidence was the culprit.

The day before Schlitz’s well went dry, Menlo Aquatic Center’s competition pool accidentally drained overnight. Perkasie Borough Authority used 300,000 gallons of water to refill the pool July 23. . . .

"Commissioners OK storm water plan"

By Peter Hall, Intelligencer, August 23, 2010:

The Bucks County Commissioners approved a storm water management plan for the Neshaminy Creek watershed that will allow the region to develop a coordinated approach to controlling erosion and flooding.

With the commissioners' adoption of the plan last week, 41 municipalities in Bucks and Montgomery counties within the watershed will have six months to modify and adopt a model storm water management ordinance contained within the plan. . . .

The plan is available on the Bucks County Planning Commission's website.

Wells running dry in East Rockhill

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/video?id=7615278

Town Hall meeting on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas

A Town Hall Meeting Presenting Information and a Discussion on Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas
Focus on Nockamixon Township, Bucks County
Saturday, August 28, 2010, at 1:00 PM
The James Michener Free Library
401 West Mill Street, Quakertown, PA 18951-1248

"Water report nears completion"

By Amanda Cregan, Intelligencer, August 22, 2010:

As officials grapple with a declining supply, the goal is to translate complicated information into an understandable form.

After a decade of collecting and charting well water samples they say show a looming groundwater crisis in Upper Bucks, residents and local officials will soon have the information in hand.

"Tests of wells were wrong on benzene"

By Christopher Ruvo, Intelligencer, August 20, 2010:

The state DEP said the tests mistakenly showed increased the levels of the chemical. A second round of testing showed acceptable levels in the water.

"Bucks could blame engineering firm"

By Peter Hall, Intelligencer, August 19, 2010:

Bucks County Commissioners will investigate whether its engineering firm may be liable for a mistake that lead to the release of sediment into two Central Bucks streams, killing thousands of fish last fall.

The commissioners on Wednesday approved settlement agreements with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the state Fish and Boat Commission that include more than $62,000 in fines.

An investigation by the DEP found that erosion and sediment control measures were not in place when the county began to drain water from flood control basins above Robin Run in Buckingham and Little Neshaminy Creek in Warrington, according to the settlement agreements. . . .

"Board votes to approve farm preservation"

By Bill Devlin, Intelligencer, August 18, 2010:

One of Bucks County's most popular pumpkin picking patches will continue as a working farm thanks to a decision Tuesday night in Plumstead.

The township supervisors agreed to pay more than $600,000 for the preservation rights for Hellerick's Family Farm on Route 611 and Haring Road.

"Bucks faces hefty fines for fish kills"

By Peter Hall, Intelligencer, August 18, 2010:

State environmental agencies could receive more than $60,000 in fine payments from Bucks to settle an investigation into two fish kills last year.

"Tankers pump in water"

By Christopher Ruvo, Intelligencer, August 15, 2010:

For more than a month, . . . [a Plumstead resident] was unable to take a shower at his home on Ann Drive in Plumstead after water traveled from the site of a fire and polluted his private well.

But the 34-year-old finally got to rinse off at home last week after tanker trucks were brought in to pump water into his house and other residences that have contaminated wells.

"From 'Dump the Pump' to kill the drill"

By Amanda Cregan, Intelligencer, August 15, 2010:

Thirty years ago, the Point Pleasant Pump motivated thousands of Bucks County residents to link arms against an energy utility and the government. As natural gas drilling looms, "the emotional components are right in place for 'Pump Two,' " says a veteran of the Pump era.

Thirty years ago, an environmental movement swept through Bucks County, uniting thousands of residents and activists against a government they didn't trust and corporations they believed sought profit over public health.

Similar forces are aligning themselves today.

This time it's not the Point Pleasant Pump, which intertwined the lives of people across the spectrum, from housewives and lawyers to social and political activists such as Abbie Hoffman.

Now, it's natural gas drilling. And much has not changed.

Nukes, yesterday. Fracking, today. . . .

"Plumstead copes with fire's environmental aftermath"

"Water samples show contamination," by Rebecca Fink, Bucks County Herald, August 12, 2010, A1.

"Residents want answers on wells"

By Christopher Ruvo, Intelligencer, August 11, 2010:

More than 100 people packed the Plumstead Municipal Building on Tuesday night looking for answers about well water contamination that authorities say is the result of runoff from a June 29 fire that destroyed an industrial building at 5189 Stump Road.

"Water contamination linked to fire"

By Christopher Ruvo, Intelligencer, August 5, 2010:

DEP plans to test at least 30 wells near where an industrial building caught fire. Fighting the fire apparently caused water runoff that carried chemicals into homeowners' wells.

"Resident: High benzene levels in pond at fire site"

By Amanda Cregan, Intelligencer, August 4, 2010:

Worried that their well water might have been tainted by toxins following a Plumstead industrial building fire, residents went before township officials seeking answers Tuesday night.

Instead, Plumstead supervisors were the ones getting information.

. . . [A resident] of Stump Road, and his attorney came armed with a report Tuesday from the state's Department of Environmental Protection that revealed high benzene levels were discovered in the pond at the warehouse site, located on the 5000 block of Stump Road.

"Well testing continues"

By Christopher Ruvo, Intelligencer, August 1, 2010:

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has sampled well water that served a Plumstead industrial building ruined by fire as part of a widening investigation into water contamination in the township.

Samples were also taken from nearby ponds during the Friday visit from DEP, which will test the water in its Harrisburg laboratories, said spokeswoman Deborah Fries.

At least four Plumstead homes have tainted water in their private wells and additional residents are reporting possible contamination.