GAY BROWNLEE
Somerset Co.
SOMERSET (Somerset Co.) -
Issues on water quality, quantity and
rights raised lots of questions in
Somerset County, April 4 What can
we do with water'’ What can’t we do
with it 9
First and foremost, any use of
water must be reasonable and not
spiteful The rule is fairness.
“Do to others as you would have
them do to you,” will keep peace in
the neighborhood when it come to
water - and a host of other issues.
Who thought ot that idea 9
God did.
Moreover, He owns the water and
in different seasons, sends the show
ers to replenish water supplies
When the Somerset County Farm
Bureau held a water issues meeting
for the public, about 80 persons filled
the meeting room, in the headquarters
of the Somerset Rural Electric
Cooperative
Obviously, they have a (ustifiable
concern about the quantity and quali
ty of and rights to use water in
Somerset County
"We thought there was a need lor
something like this because of the
demand on the water we have,” said
Kurt Walkei, Farm Bureau vice-pres
ident and meeting coordinator
It seemed the ingathering of infor
mation from four speakers, sequen
tially lead to more questions demand
ing answers. Persons were promised
responses later, if their concerns were
written on index cards that were col
lected
The speakers included two geolo
gists, Jim Casselberry of Casselberry
Associates, Boalsburg, and Dave
Bomba of Johnstown; Dave Plank,
Department of Environmental
Protection, Pittsburgh, and Samuel
Clapper, a Somerset attorney.
Clapper noted there are three
kinds of water; surface water, subter
ranean (underground) water and pe
culating waters
He said the general rule is, if the
stream is passing through your prop
erty and you are using it for domestic
and agricultural use, you are without
liability to the person downstream
who runs out of water.
“You are not allowed to use water
off the land to the detriment of some
body downstream,” Clapper reported
This would include commercial
uses of water such as selling bottled
water
In cases of damming up water,
you are liable if it backs up and caus
es damage for your neighbor
Damming, however, is permissible if
done for livestock, the attorney said
If the waters are navigable waters,
you cannot deplete it Navigable
waters are strongly regulated,
Clapper said
Maryland And Pennsylvania
Need Dairy Contestants
Cuunty should contact Gail
Thoman at (717)428-1832.
I ycoming County potential
candidates should contact
Wanda Derr at (717) 323-4949.
Those from other counties in
Pennsylvania who would like to
know more about the dairy prin
cess program, should call Jan
Harding at (814) 226-7470.
Maryland contestants arc also
needed. Dairy princess contest
ants must be between the ages of
16-22 years. Dairy maides be
tween 13-16 years.
For more information about
becoming a dairy princess or
dairy maid in Maryland, call Pa
tricia or Sarah Bedgar at (410)
357-4296.
Man) counties need contest
ants for upcoming dairy prin
cess pageants
Contestants need to be single
between the ages of 16-24, whose
parents, guardians, or them
selves arc employed in a daily
related industry or own at least
two animals of the six major
dairy breeds.
Younger candidates are also
needed for dairy maid, ambassa
dor, and Little Miss positions.
Candidates should be inter
ested in promoting the dairy in
dustry and will receive training
in developing speaking ability
and self confidence.
Interested candidates in York
Somerset County Grapples With Water Issues
In cases of the water being point
ed, the person responsible for the
contamination is liable if there is a
way to prove him culpable. But proof
there must be, whether the scenario
involves a municipality, individual or
private user
The improper use of water must
be proved with data and testimony
against the alleged misuser. If some
one else’s drilling took your water,
evidence to prove it must be provid
ed.
“Municipalities can condemn
water rights but they must provide
just compensation,” Clapper said
“Once a municipality has the correct
permit from the state, the same rules
do not apply” He added. “The munic
ipal entity does have the power of
eminent domain ”
This knowledge drew a mixed
murmuring from the group, which
was comprised of interested individu
als such as farmers, municipal offi
cials, and representatives of local
government
Regarding contamination of
water, Dave Plank from the DEP cau
tioned farmers to use restraint when
enriching the soil. “Don’t over-fertil
ize,” he said
In some cases, Plank reported
there are farmers who eschew inter
ference and advice about using the
water
“They don’t want anyone telling
them how to use the water on their
land,” plank said, noting a nitrate
problem m Lancaster County to illus
trate his point.
Geologist Casselberry said the
quality of water is determined by pre
cipitation acting with the rock strata.
The more alkaline, the higher the
water quality. The more acid, the
poorer the water quality.
“Poor water quality is made worse
by mining,” he said.
To wit, m recent years the rela
tionship of water quality to lingering
effects from decades of coal mining,
has become a pertinent topic in
Somerset County. The solutions do
not come easily or quickly.
Casselberry talked about bedrock
aquifers and fractures, explaining
how fractures control the ability of
water to flow. Wells should be placed
near the highest degree of fracturing,
according to Casselberry.
When a geologist is engaged to
evaluate a well or a water situation,
the job can go quicker if the well
owner already has recorded facts
about the well itself and the water,
“There is no substitute for docu
mentation,” he said. “Help yourself
by writing everything down on paper.
Don’t try to keep information in your
head.”
Such information, for instance,
should include an inventory of every
thing within a half mile, information
About 80 persons listened to experts explain rights and talk about water issues
at a meeting sponsored by the Somerset County Farm Bureau.
about the aquifer, the well casing, and
water depth during and following
pumping
Geologist Dave Bomba looks at
and reviews permits in southwest
Pennsylvania. He is responsible for
the site survey, a pre-drilling plan,
48-hour aquifer test and a report sub
mitted to the DEP.
During the site survey, for
instance, Bomba would note how the
surrounding land is being used and
the possibility for contamination
from those sources. He would learn
about other private water supplies in
the area.
One couple at the meeting was
eager for information, because it has
been reported an existing restaurant is
planning to drill a new well near the
water source for their farming opera
tion, located along Laurel Run Road.
“We want to say ‘No,’ before the
permit process,” said Robert and
Janet Miller, adamantly. “We don’t
want it to get to the permit process.”
The Millers’ 100 head of milking
cows and replacement animals drink
about 8,000 gallons of water a day
when it’s hot, but that figure doesn’t
take into account cleaning and sani
tizing the equipment and household
use.
Since 1942 the well has not failed;
nevertheless, possibility has them
worried.
Bomba said nobody had yet con
tacted him for a permit about the pro
posed well.
Lycoming County 4-H leaders attended the Pennsylvania State Leaders’ Forum, State
College. Workshops focused on topics to help volunteers become better teachers and
counselors of youth. From left are Joyce Stugart, Marilyn Corbin, state leader for chil
dren, youth, and families; Norma Zeisloft, Patty Peterman, and Betty Delany.
Geologist Dave Bomba uses a marker to illustrate a
point when answering a question during a water issues
meeting in Somerset County.
Schmidt Earns
Junior Bronze and Silver
ST. JOSEPH, Mo - Jessica
Schmidt, Drumore, Pa., has qualified
for the bronze and silver awards of
the National Junior Angus Associa
tion, according to James Fisher,
director of junior activities for the
American Angus Association.
Schmidt is the 17-year-old daugh
ter of Pete and Laurie Schmidt and a
senior at Solanco High School.
She has shown her Angus in
numerous shows at the local, state,
regional and national levels. Schmidt
has participated in the photography
contest at the National Junior Angus
Show and has served as Pennsylvania
Angus Princess. She is a member in
the Pennsylvania Junior Angus
Association and has been a member
of the National Junior Angus
Association since 1994.
The bronze and silver awards are
the first two levels of the National
Junior Angus Association Recog
nition Program that began in 1972
Junior Angus breeders must apply for
the awards and then meet point
requirements in many areas of partic
ipation before receiving the honors.
Applicants are evaluated in the
areas of junior Angus association
activities, participation in showman
ship and leadership competitions,
using performance testing to improve
their herd, and their progress in pro
ducing and merchandising Angus cat
tle.