Drought watch lifted

9/2/11 Drought watch lifted for 40 PA counties, including Bucks.

8/5/11 DEP Declares Drought Watches and Warnings: Bucks County is among 40 counties under a drought watch.

From PlumsteadTownship.org:
"8/30/11 - Drought Watch Continues...Even with the recent heavy rainfall in our area we are advised by the PaDEP that the entire portion of southeastern Pennsylvania still remains under a 'drought watch.' Residents are being asked to voluntarily reduce their consumption by 5%."

"8/4/11 - As of Thursday, August 4, the water restrictions on Cabin Run and Landis Greene developments are modified to now allow for hand watering of gardens and flower beds. Lawn watering, car washing and all other non-essential uses remain prohibited. Voluntary water restrictions will remain in place for all of the other Township public water systems."

"7/19/11 - Plumstead Township is placing mandatory drought restrictions on water usage for all residents in the Cabin Run and Landis Greene developments. The restrictions prohibit the use of all non-essential water use including lawn and garden watering, car washing and the filling of pools until further notice. A drought watch is in place for all other public water systems in the Township. We are asking for the voluntary reduction in the use of water in those systems."

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"Tainted water probe widens in Plumstead"

By Christopher Ruvo, Intelligencer, July 30, 2010:

At least four homes have wells that are contaminated, and officials are concerned more wells might have been affected.

"Tests detect benzene in well"

By Christopher Ruvo, Intelligencer, July 29, 2010:

Residents complained their drinking water had been fouled by runoff from a nearby industrial fire.

"Post-fire water woes"

By Christopher Ruvo, Intelligencer, July 28, 2010:

Residents near last month's fire in Plumstead said their water has become too tainted to drink or bathe in.

Nockamixon: "Clean start"

PhillyBurbs.com: "Clean start: Scientists are beginning to sample wells and water sources in the township. It will serve as proof if the water is poisoned by gas drilling," by Amanda Cregan, Intelligencer, August 18, 2009: "If Nockamixon's groundwater is poisoned during natural gas extraction, officials will have the evidence. Scientists with Princeton Hydro, a New Jersey-based water and wetlands resource management company, are traveling throughout the township this week to sample wells, streams, creeks and aquifers. . . ."

Frontline/PBS: "Poisoned Waters"

FRONTLINE: Poisoned Waters on PBS: "A far-reaching investigation into American's great waterways. They are in peril. There's a new wave of pollution that's killing fish, causing mutations in frogs -- and threatening human health."

"Springtown Water Authority honored"

PhillyBurbs.com, Intelligencer, by Amanda Cregan, April 10, 2009: "Springtown Water Authority honored. The all-volunteer agency was lauded for maintaining local control of the rural township's water system."

"Pennridge-area water safety addressed"

PhillyBurbs.com: "Pennridge-area water safety addressed," by Theresa Hegel, Intelligencer, April 1, 2009.

"Officials tap ideas for water safety"

PhillyBurbs.com, Intelligencer, by Theresa Hegel, March 29, 2009: "For Pennridge area officials, the best way to keep drinking water clean, safe - and, indeed, flowing - is to go to the source.

"With the help of the Bucks County Planning Commission and a slew of scientists, they've been able to map out where each spray of your hose and dribble from your tap originated.

"The region's source water protection plan - currently in draft form - delineates those origins and identifies 'actual and potential sources of contamination,' said Rea Monaghan, an environmental planner with the Bucks County Planning Commission.

"The plan, which will be reviewed at a public meeting on Tuesday, could also be an invaluable resource in case of an emergency, she added.

"About eight years ago, the Pennridge Area Coordinating Committee began an initiative to link land development to water resources. The idea is that housing and other types of development should not exceed the capacity of area water systems.

"Water availability 'is going to be one of the most critical items that we deal with and face in the next 25 years,' said Don Duvall, a West Rockhill supervisor and PACC member." [continued]

"No cause for drought alarm in area - yet"

PhillyBurbs.com: "No cause for drought alarm in area - yet," by Rich Pietras, Intelligencer, March 24, 2009. "Rainfall amounts are way down in 2009, but rain is predicted later this week."

Regulations for natural gas drilling

"Environmentalists want regulations for expected increase in natural gas drilling," by Scott Detrow, WHYY News, March 19, 2009. "Pennsylvania officials are banking on a boom in natural gas drilling over the next few years. But environmental advocates say lawmakers will need to put strict regulations in place to protect water sources [emphasis added]."