Water Quality

Monitoring of drinking water quality is an integral component of water management and public health. In this section, access educational resources on drinking water quality, including tips on water contaminants. Advice is available on drilling and managing wells, protecting groundwater, and teaching water quality stewardship.

Water Contamination

Pollution caused by agricultural and industrial activities, as well as naturally occurring substances, is a constant threat to many water supplies. There are different types of water contaminants, such as lead, nitrogen, pesticides, and organic material suspended in water from soil erosion.

Certain contaminants can be identified by their color, smell, and taste, though, most require testing to reveal whether the water is contaminated. Bacterial contamination is one of the most common water quality problems. While many positive bacteria tests indicate a serious issue, some can be the result of a one-time contamination incident. In such cases, shock chlorination can be recommended as a simple process to disinfect contaminated water supplies.

Discover more about water quality and safety with Penn State Extension’s water webinar series. Information can be found on a wide array of topics, including nitrates in private water supplies, common water quality issues in wells, and household water treatment processes. Advice can also be found on testing water for arsenic, as well as detecting and solving corrosive water problems.

Groundwater Protection

Many water systems draw all or part of their supply from groundwater. Groundwater protection is vital for protecting the water supply and reducing treatment costs.

With more than half a billion gallons used for drinking water each day, groundwater is an important resource in Pennsylvania. Many people, however, are becoming concerned about the future availability of groundwater supplies due to increased local use and impervious cover of the land surface. Learn what you can do to preserve the PA water supply during the Individual Actions to Protect Pennsylvania Groundwater webinar.

Other protection strategies to consider include implementing an environmentally safe fuel storage plan, taking steps to prevent water contamination, and properly maintaining septic systems.

Water Quality and Roadside Springs

Roadside springs are a popular source of drinking water. It is important to note, however, that they are an untreated water supply and understanding the actual water source can be important.

While roadside springs take on many forms, many of them fail at least one water quality standard, due to factors such as the presence of coliform bacteria, corrosiveness, and sediment. Learn more during the Study of Roadside Springs in Pennsylvania free webinar. During the webinar, Extension educators cover a variety of topics including spring construction and risks associated with drinking water from roadside springs.

Healthy Streams and Watersheds

An important factor when measuring a stream’s health is its embeddedness. Low embeddedness – or the layering of gravel, cobble, and boulders on a stream bottom – allows easy water flow and provides habitat for many aquatic bugs. Aquatic insects are an integral part of healthy streams that form the basis of the aquatic food chain.

Another way of assessing the health of a stream is by evaluating its bank vegetation. The bank cover plays an essential role in decreasing the amount of soil exposed to passing water and reducing erosion. In addition, a well-planted vegetated area can help absorb nutrients, remove pollutants, control the stream’s temperature, and reduce flood water damage.

On this page, find further resources on water quality, stream health, and watersheds. In-depth information is also provided on treatment methods for acid water in Pennsylvania streams and live staking. A PA stream map is available, as well.