Nearly 6 million people live in the drainage area of the Potomac River which stretches 14,670 square miles across four states and the District of Columbia. 86% of these people get their drinking water from public water suppliers which use the Potomac River, its tributaries and surrounding ground water as their source water. And with an average flow before withdrawal of 7 billion gallons/day, it may be an understatement to say: it’s a big deal!

Luckily, this has not gone unnoticed. Organized in 2004, the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership (DWSPP) has been working to better understand and address the risks that may negatively affect the quality of drinking water in the Potomac River basin. The Partnership is a voluntary association of 20 water suppliers and government agencies whose mission is the protection of their source water supplies in the basin. Some of the biggest interests of the Partnership are:

• Tracking research on low levels of emerging  contaminants to determine their persistence in the environment and their potential threats to human health and the environment

• Early warning/emergency response to events and conditions which may threaten the safety of the water supply

• Urban issues such as the impact of roadway salts on drinking water sources

• Agriculture issues such as the potential contribution of pathogens. One example of this is Cryptosporidium, which may cause water-borne disease

Broad source water programs like the Partnership’s are significant because they extend beyond the treatment element and provide an invaluable multi-barrier approach to drinking water protection. With concerns like those above (and more) in both urban and rural areas, this collaborative approach should open the eyes of residents in watersheds everywhere.

So what should you do? Educate yourself on the issues the Potomac DWSPP is working on by visiting their website and be sure to take a look at specific information about special topics or workgroup activities. You may also find information like how to properly dispose of pharmaceuticals, as well as other ways you too can ensure safe drinking water for your area.

Just because you don’t live anywhere close to beachfront property doesn’t mean you’re not a coastal resident! In fact, if you live near and/or between Philadelphia and the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, then most likely your everyday actions have a huge impact on the closest coastal region. Why? Because you are directly connected to the Delaware Estuary, which stretches from Trenton, New Jersey, south to Cape May, New Jersey and Cape Henlopen, Delaware.  Estuaries are areas partially surrounded by land where rivers meet the sea. The Delaware Estuary ecosystem is fed by the Delaware River and its tributaries which includes all of the Delaware Bay. Inhabitants of the area rely on the estuary for drinking water, industry and recreational activities. As do all estuaries, it posseses many habitats suitable for vast amounts of plants and animals and is the birthplace of many different kinds of wildlife.

There are millions of people who live in the Delaware River Basin which includes parts of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The activities of those millions have an effect on the quality of water in the estuary. For this reason, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc. held the 2010 Pennsylvania Coast Day on September 13th. This day of family fun boasted ferries, schooners, and other kinds of sea transportation. For those who were prone to sea-sickness, there were over 20 booths and displays at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, educating child and adult alike.

You can bet that representatives from EPA Region 3’s Water Protection Division were there to do just that. With many fun-filled activities, including a Water Wheel of Questions, Region 3 employees shared the importance of water conservation and keeping our streams clean. Responses from one question on the water wheel really surprised us. “How long is your normal shower?” While it is recommended that you try to keep it to 10 minutes or less, many participants said they take 15 to 30 minute showers! That got us to wonder how many other people take an extended time in the shower. How long do you take? Let us know or tell us how you make an effort to conserve water around your home. And if you were at the event and visited our display, do you have any suggestions for activities or issues we could incorporate at EPA’s booth for Coast Day 2011?

15% of Americans rely on private wells for their daily water needs.  Private well water quality is the responsibility of the homeowner and is not regulated by the EPA; however, there may be state or local laws that apply so check for those, too. It is important if you are using a private well to have your well water tested for quality. Once a year it is recommended that you test for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH level. Depending on where you live you may want to test for other contaminants. Visit your state’s private well web site to find more information.
 Testing well water is an important practice for private well users but equally important are prevention practices. Some useful things to keep in mind about your private well:
• Septic tanks should be at least  50 feet away from the well and depending on the hydrogeology of the site , 100 feet might be recommended
• Minimize the use of pesticides and herbicides on your land
• Do not dispose of household and lawn care wastes near your well
• Regularly check underground oil and gas holding tanks; these tanks can leak into your drinking well
• Ensure your well is protected from livestock, pet and wildlife waste
• Make sure well casings are at least 8 inches above the ground and a sanitary well cap is used at the top of the casing.
Visit the American Groundwater Trust. It is an organization that has been around since 1986 and educates people about maintaining and testing their ground water wells. The Trust has a very informative website with many useful resources.
Also check out the Mid-Atlantic Master Well Owner Network for information on proper construction and maintenance of private water systems in Pennsylvania and throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Do you get your water from a private well? Share some things to watch out for or problems you have encountered and what solution worked best for you.
 Read more information on private drinking wells.

Letting warm water run from a faucet for five minutes is equivalent to running a 60-watt light bulb for 14 hours. What’s more, a five minute shower can use as much as ten gallons of water! This may sound surprising, yet it illustrates the overwhelming necessity and benefits of water efficiency. Many Americans know about the importance of saving water and saving energy, but few know the direct connection between saving both.

Launched in 2006, WaterSense, a voluntary partnership and labeling program sponsored by the EPA, set out to reduce municipal water use across the country by advocating water efficient products and practices. Products that have earned the WaterSense label are certified by an independent third party to be at least 20% more efficient than similar products in the marketplace. WaterSense labeled products are a simple way for consumers to identify products that save water without sacrificing performance or quality.  Consumer or manufacturer, municipality or private water system, WaterSense aims to:

• Decrease indoor and outdoor non-agricultural water use through more efficient products, services, and practices;
• Help consumers make water-efficient choices, including differentiating between products and services in the marketplace while ensuring product performance;
• Promote simple daily activities that reduce water use;
• Encourage innovation in manufacturing; and
• Develop rigorous certification criteria that ensure product testing, efficiency, and performance.Just think. By implementing a few small changes to your daily routine, you are not only saving water and money – you are preserving water supplies for generations to come.

Local water utilities have been very supportive in the development of the WaterSense program.  Utilities are encouraged to partner with WaterSense and use the program as part of their local water efficiency and conservation efforts. EPA Region 3 welcomes new partners to the WaterSense program including manufacturers, retailers and distributors, local and state governments, utilities, water districts, trade associations, nonprofits, certified irrigation professionals, professional certifying organizations, licensed certification providers, and builders.

Do you have any WaterSense labeled products? Use this product search to find more. Have you recognized strong support for the cause in your area and want to learn more? Contact Ramon Albizu, Region 3 WaterSense Liaison, albizu.ramon@epa.gov or Alysa Suero, suero.alysa@epa.gov . Visit here to get more information about WaterSense in the Mid-Atlantic region