DRBC - H2O or HBO? It's Time to Value Our Water Resources

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H2O or HBO?
It's Time to Value Our Water Resources

by DRBC Executive Director Carol R. Collier

Do you spend more per month on your cable TV service or your water bill? Here in relatively water rich Pennsylvania, we take our water resources for granted. Whether on public water or private well, we turn on the tap and clean, fresh water is delivered at a few cents per gallon.

While federal, state and local governments, river basin commissions, industries and non-profit organizations have done much to improve the quality of our lakes, streams and rivers, not as much attention has been given to issues of water availability. On average, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania receives 42 inches of rain per year; we should have ample water for our 12 million residents and industrial users. However, there are some areas of the state that have limited ground water supplies due to low-yielding aquifers or localized contamination, and over all, we have not been careful in the management of the water we receive as precipitation.

In 1998, Pennsylvania's 21st Century Environment Commission made the following findings and recommendations:

Because responsibility for planning and management of water quantity is inadequate and fragmented, Pennsylvania does not have enough information to assess or mitigate the impact of new development and growth on our water resources. Our most time-critical need is to assess our water supply resources and develop and implement management plans for them. (p. 44)

The proposed Water Resources Conservation and Protection Act provides us with just the opportunity we need. It kick starts the tasks necessary to evaluate and manage our water resources. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) supports the principles included in the legislation and commits to being a partner in the implementation of the initiative.

Update of State Water Plan - Water is critical to the Commonwealth's future, affecting the natural environment, our economic potential and land use patterns. Yet we are not dedicating the resources necessary to understand the system. Imagine financial institutions operating without the most recent information on inflation and interest rates. What if an investor had to rely on 1996 data when deciding on the best stocks and bonds for his portfolio? While this would be totally unacceptable in the financial world, it is the case for much of our information on water.

If you don't measure a resource, you can't manage a resource. By instituting withdrawal registration and reporting and by updating the severely outdated state water plan, we will improve our baseline data and identify areas of the Commonwealth that have water deficits or the potential for them. The compiled information will not only help state water managers, but will be a resource for county and municipal officials, planners, scientists and engineers.

Critical Water Planning Areas - The DRBC has a program in place similar to the one proposed, and it is working. We commend the Administration for proposing to extend such a program statewide.

Because of the high growth pressures over Bucks, Montgomery and Chester Counties, an area with limited ground water supply, the DRBC has designated a "Southeastern Pennsylvania Ground Water Protected Area" or "GWPA." The GWPA program allows us to assess potential impacts of ground water withdrawals on a watershed basis and to limit withdrawals when they reach levels that could adversely affect streamflows. We also have a program that encourages municipalities within a watershed to work together developing a multi-municipal Integrated Resource Plan or IRP, called "IWRPs" in the legislation. This planning process facilitates an analysis of water resources and land use patterns. It can help to answer critical questions such as: How much growth can be supported within the watershed? Where are the best locations for certain land uses? How can impacts to water resources be reduced or eliminated?

Better water resource management is a wise investment because water resources can serve as a magnet for desired economic development. With a management system in place, protection will be provided for our streams, lakes and rivers -- outstanding assets of Pennsylvania. The DRBC strongly supports Critical Area identification and management.

Water Conservation - Conserve water logo. Water conservation is more than turning the water off while you brush your teeth, although that is important as every drop counts! Water conservation applies to indoor domestic use, yard use, industrial processes, storm water management, and land patterns. In addition to using less water, it can include reuse of treated wastewater or separation of gray water. It is interesting that during droughts, when non-essential uses are curtailed, water consumption goes down. However, as soon as the rains come, the consumption rate bounces back up. Through education we can change our ways and make conservation a life long habit. The initiatives of the legislation will promote these necessary changes.

Water Well Standards - Most of our surrounding states have well driller licensing and/or construction standards. Unified state standards, well driller licensing, and water quality monitoring all are necessary steps to adequate water resource management.

Future Needs - As we develop a water resource management strategy in Pennsylvania, there are a few basic principles that should be incorporated:

Water resources must be managed using natural watershed boundaries. Water does not respect political boundaries.
Water quantity affects water quality. While the terms "water use or water availability" often imply human needs -- potable water, electric generation, industrial processes -- water management must also address surface water flows necessary to maintain healthy stream communities. This is an area that needs more research and funding.
Storm water is a resource. Much time is spent analyzing ground water withdrawals, but little time is devoted to finding ways of increasing the amount of water returned to the system. The only water we receive falls as precipitation -- sometimes as severe storms, but often as light rain showers. The majority of our existing storm water systems are designed to reduce the rate of runoff to the nearest stream, instead of encouraging infiltration and recharging the ground water aquifers. The Water Management legislation needs to be tied to the positive new changes proposed in the PADEP storm water management policy.
Much of water management is land management. How the land is developed affects the quantity and quality of our water resources. While water management must be viewed on a regional or watershed basis, many solutions will rest with municipal government. Water management cannot be successful if considered solely as a state agency initiative. State agencies and interstate basin commissions can develop the programs and provide education and incentives, but the involvement and commitment of local governments, watershed associations, businesses and interested citizens are critical.
Water is one resource. Due to regulatory programs, we treat components of water as separate, non-connected entities -- wastewater, water supply, storm water, wetlands, drinking water, aquatic resources, ground water, surface water. Programs will be more cost effective and solutions more creative if a holistic approach is taken. It's all water!

The DRBC supports the water management initiatives embodied in the proposed Water Resources Conservation and Protection Act and stands ready to do our part. Improving water resource management is a vital need -- our Commonwealth's future depends on it!

This opinion originally appeared in the February 8, 2002, edition of the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's UPDATE newsletter.

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