Is our future
draining away?

By DAVID E. HESS

At water forums all across Pennsylvania this past spring, hundreds of Pennsylvanians shared what they thought were the most critical water-resource issues.

To address these concerns, the Schweiker Administration has outlined a water-resources initiative that will accomplish four objectives that were recommended at these forums:

First, to lay a foundation for future decisions, we need to update the State Water Plan. We need to gather data on how much water we have, how it’s being used, and what we’ll need to meet future demand. Legislation is needed to require the registration of major water users. And a new Water Resources Advisory Committee is needed to assist in the planning process.

Second, we need to use the plan to identify Critical Water Planning Areas—watersheds covering multiple municipalities where water demands now, or will in the future, outstrip available supplies. Legislation should establish a public process for designating a representative government or organization that will create a detailed area “water budget.”

Third, a new program promoting efficient use of existing water supplies should address water conservation education and technologies for home and business use.

Fourth, because so many people depend on water wells, construction standards should be established for the siting, construction and abandonment of wells. And licensing and education requirements should be established for water-well drillers.

The successful “Growing Greener” Watershed Protection Program has created unprecedented awareness of water-quality issues. We now have an opportunity to lay a foundation to address some of Pennsylvania’s most basic concerns about water resources. We need to take “Growing Greener” further and promote a watershed-based approach for dealing with water quantity issues.

If we don’t, we could literally see our future drain away.

[David E. Hess is Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.]