Clean water has found a new friend in northeast Pennsylvania! The Pocono Source Water Protection Collaborative (PSWPC) has been formed to maintain the excellent drinking water quality of Northeast Pennsylvania. The Pike County Conservation District is working with the Collaborative, an association of private and community associations, on plans to help keep our drinking water free from pollutants and assure a healthy water source for our entire region.

The initial focus will be supporting community water systems in their drinking water protection efforts, such as developing a source water protection plan. Source water protection plans involve discovering the water supply’s drinking water sources and potential sources of contamination, and developing emergency plans in the event of a spill or accident that may threaten those sources.  PSWPC hopes to extend the participation of community water suppliers by highlighting the benefits and opportunities of working together.

The Conservation District’s Watershed Specialist Lori Colgan is a member of the Collaborative’s Source Water Environmental Education Team, and will be providing instruction to local schools and organizations on the importance of protecting the quality of the area’s water. The Collaborative will also be providing educational workshops and sharing information throughout the year with local water companies, municipalities, and the Pike County Emergency Management agency personnel. This initiative is being funded with a $5,000 grant that was received from the Water Resources Education Network from the League of Women Voters.