"Region's water supply mapped out"

By Amanda Cregan, Intelligencer, September 2, 2010:

As Bucks County planners consider future land development, water is a major part of the equation.

"We've got a limited amount of fresh water and we have to do what we have to do to sustain that as a renewable resource," Dennis Livrone, senior planner for the Bucks County Planning Commission, told the board at its meeting Wednesday.

As development and the county's population expands so does the need for clean drinking water and wastewater treatment technology, he said.


"A continuous increase always puts some kind of strain on your water resources," said Livrone. "The idea is to integrate wastewater planning with land planning."

As the county puts together a new comprehensive plan, the planning commission got a look at the region's water supply, how it's mapped out and which agencies regulate water quality.

The water that flows to residents' taps and toilets either comes from surface waters, like streams, creeks or reservoirs, or groundwater, which is pulled from the rock below the surface.

In many ways, a portion of the county's drinking water supply is completely up to the will of Mother Nature, described county environmental planner Rea Monaghan.

About 36 percent of water supplied to Bucks County residents comes from groundwater, she said.

Its production is dependent on the geology of the aquifer, and as more homes and businesses move in to an area, it can put stress on the water supply.

"The development of water wells disrupts the natural balance between recharge and discharge rates," said Monaghan.

But there are some ways that residents can help, she noted.

"Water conservation and water use efficiency are the most reliable and least expensive ways to preserve the county's water resources," she said.

Homeowners should read and monitor their quarterly records for a sign of leaks or inefficiencies. It's also advisable to regularly check for leaks in equipment and appliances, maintain insulation on hot water pipes, and always choose water efficient models when buying new appliances, said Monaghan.

As county officials consider the amount of local water resources available as part of its future planning, it still can prove to be a tough equation.

"It's been an elusive goal for many municipalities to figure out how much water they actually have," said Executive Director Lynn Bush. "It's something no one has been able to effectively accomplish."