Group Seeking Money to Test Water in County
Washington PA Observer
Reporter
22 January 2011
By Bob Niedbala, Staff writer
niedbala@observer-reporter.com
WAYNESBURG - In an effort to monitor the water quality of area streams
and possibly prevent another situation from developing similar to what
happened at Dunkard Creek, the Harry Enstrom Chapter of the Izaac
Walton League is initiating a program to test water quality in streams
throughout Greene County.
The chapter has developed a program to train and certify volunteers to
conduct water testing. It hopes to begin sending people out into the
field next month to start the weekly water tests.
The program certainly fits well with the league's mission. That mission
"is to conserve and protect the water, the air and all aspects of our
environment for our health and enjoyment," said Jim Butler, the
chapter's testing program coordinator.
The project is especially important now when the possibility of water
contamination has increased substantially as a result of the boom in
the coal, natural gas and coal bed methane extraction industries.
"Our experts feel what occurred at Dunkard Creek could potentially
occur at more than one other Greene County location," Butler said.
Aquatic life in Dunkard Creek was wiped out in the fall of 2009 by a
bloom of golden algae. It is believed very high levels of total
dissolved solids in the stream from mine water discharges created
conditions for the algae to bloom.
Area streams also are now more vulnerable as more and more water is
being withdrawn from them for drilling operations, diminishing the flow
and the ability of the streams to dilute any contaminants, Butler said.
"The object of the water testing is to identify areas that need to be
protected," he said. The important thing is to have the facts, Butler
added.
"Where we want it to lead is to greater cooperation between the
citizens and industry to protect the future of our natural resources,"
he said. "There's always a balance between industrial and public use of
a resource. We're looking for the optimal use, what's best," he said.
The league will soon begin training and certifying volunteers under a
program set up by Geo Resources Associates. The volunteers will
initially test water once a week at 21 locations in watersheds
including Dunkard Creek, Whiteley Creek, Ten Mile Creek and Enlow Fork.
The testing equipment that will be used will test for acidity, or pH,
and conductivity, a measurement of total dissolved solids in the water.
Through the testing, the league will establish a baseline of water
quality for area streams from which it can identify any abnormalities.
Special teams also have been designating to do more extensive testing
when any "hot spot" of contamination is found, Butler said.
Data from the weekly testing will be made available on a website of the
West Virginia University Water Research Institute, which is working
with the chapter and also posts its own similar monitoring data on the
site for the Monongahela River.
The chapter has earmarked money to initiate the water testing program.
It also has applied for a grant to help cover the startup costs through
Greene County Conservation District.
"Right now, what you have is a dearth of information on water quality,"
Butler said. The chapter believes it has developed a program to provide
accurate information that can be used to begin a meaningful discussion
among citizens, government and industry on protecting this area's water
resources, he said.
For more information on the project or on the Harry Enstrom chapter,
e-mail ChetWaters@WatershedMonitors.us.