Water, water, but what is in it? - CLEAR

15 May 2011


      Watershed Report:  our newest feature 
Observer-Reporter, Washington, PA, May 15,  2011
Much of the quality of life here in Southwestern  Pennsylvania has to do 
with the quality of our water. It is what we drink and  what we use for 
cooking, washing and bathing. We use it to water our gardens and  our crops. We 
swim in it and we fish in it. It is the blood of the veins of our  land.
And that is why it is so crucial to protect our  water resources from the 
numerous and increasing sources of pollution: sewage,  fertilizer and 
pesticides, industrial wastes and contaminants from coal mining  and gas drilling.  
A coalition of local organizations - the  Greene-Washington County Water 
Quality Awareness Group - is now working in  cooperation with the state 
Department of Environmental Protection to regularly  test creeks and streams for 
pollutants. This newspaper has agreed to publish its  monthly reports, the 
first of which appears today.  
Today's report calls attention to Whiteley Creek in  Greene County. Results 
of the testing by volunteers and the DEP indicate that it  is a "hot spot" 
in need of action to prevent it from suffering the damages  inflicted on 
Dunkard Creek, made lifeless by mine water.  
We applaud the local chapter of the Izaak Walton  League and the other 
groups in the coalition for their efforts in preserving our  most vital natural 
resource.
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Marcellus  Gas Drilling is Scheduled to Begin in
Morgantown Industrial Park Soon 
Upstream of  Morgantown’s Drinking Water Plant 
Near County Schools 
PLEASE COME  to a Community-wide Rally to Express YOUR Concerns and 
Questions 
WHERE:  Mon County Courthouse  Square. 
High Street, Downtown Morgantown 
WHEN:  Wednesday, May 18, 10:00 to  Noon 
Bring Your Kids and Bring a Sign  (G-rated)
Please forward this announcement to your friends, family  and neighbors. 
For your information:  Morgantown  Utility Board’s letters to the West 
Virginia Department of Environmental  Protection stating its concerns are 
attached and can be downloaded from the  Charleston Gazette blog: 
_http://blogs.wvgazette.com/watchdog/2011/05/13/morgantown-utility-board-see
ks-drilling-safeguards_ 
(http://blogs.wvgazette.com/watchdog/2011/05/13/morgantown-utility-board-seek...)  
Organized by concerned Morgantown  area citizens: Kathy Cash, Sharon 
Goodman, Ann Payne, Marc Glass, Catherine  Tall, Sandra Fallon, Cindy  O'Brien