WATER

Figure 1: The Schuylkill River

Schuylkill County is blessed with many rivers and streams to source drinking water, but these waterways are not reliably healthy. On March 6th, 2024, Philly RiverCast rated the Schuylkill River’s health as RED, meaning it is unfit for activities involving direct or indirect contact with the water due to high levels of bacteria. (1). These high levels of bacteria lead to the heavy chlorinated disinfecting process for Schuylkill County’s drinking water. Chlorine remains Schuylkill County drinking water’s highest pollutant. (2).

In 2022, Schuylkill Municipal Authority barely passed federal inspection of water, with pollutants often hanging in the highest point of the limited range. (2). According to the Environmental Working Group, the federal government has not updated their water pollution limits in the past twenty years, and that even if a pollutant is within the legal limit, it is not always safe. EWG claims that SCMA surpasses 10 of their own imposed limits, with pollutants like–at frightening levels. (3). Other than chlorine, the most concentrated pollutants in Schuylkill County’s drinking water include barium and chlorine disinfection byproducts like total trihalomethanes  (TTHM) and Haloacetic acids (HAA5). (3). These pollutants can cause negative health effects on humans and the environment. Both TTHM and HAA5 are carcinogens. (3).

The chart below is from SCMA’s 2022 pollutant report. (2).

Schuylkill County has many sources of nonpoint pollution, which contribute to some of the main pollutants above. Because of Schuylkill County’s coal mining boom and collapse, many anthracite mines have been left abandoned. Although these mines may not be polluting like they did in the past, their remnants can pollute today. Heavy metals like barium often originate from abandoned mine drainage (AMD), which occurs when water fills old mining tunnels. (4). Water and oxygen react with iron sulfide in the mines to form sulfuric acid, which pollutes on its own but also dissolves metals from the tunnel, leading to acidic and metal laden pollution. (4). AMD pollutants interfere with aquatic life, stream health, and drinking water, corroding pipes and drinking water mechanisms. Because Schuylkill County has so many old and abandoned anthracite coal mines, AMD is a large problem; according to the Schuylkill Action Network, AMD is the lead polluting source in the Schuylkill River. (4). Some branches of the Schuylkill River have been nicknamed “mud” or “sh*t” creek by locals due to the rust-colored sediment the pollutants leave. (7).

Figure 3: Example of Acid Mine Drainage in Schuylkill County

Another source of nonpoint pollution in Schuylkill County is agriculture. Agricultural operations can pollute the land through use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. (5). Herbicides and pesticides harm local ecosystems and can lead to chemical build up in organisms. Excess fertilizers entering waterways can cause eutrophication, or algal blooms. (5). Farming can disturb the soil, leading to sediment pollution which further disturbs waterways. (5). Also, manure from livestock pollutes with bacteria. (5). With how heavily the SCWA disinfects the drinking water supply, one may safely assume that high levels of bacteria plague Schuylkill County’s water sources, which is likely due to local manure runoff. 

Relevant stakeholders in Schuylkill County’s water systems include, but are not limited to:

  • Schuylkill Conservation District
    • This District is centered on maintaining a healthy natural environment, and clean water is essential to that mission.
  • Schuylkill County Government
    • Local government is concerned about the health of its people and environment, and water quality affects both.
  • Schuylkill Municipal Authority
    • The quality of the local water source then affects how much it needs to get treated to be drinkable, which can increase company costs and chlorine byproduct pollution.
  • Citizens (water drinkers)
    • Water quality is essential to the health of the drinkers of it. Pollutants in water can harm locals immediately or in the future if carcinogenic pollutants build up.
  • Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
    • This commission is reliant on the health of local waterways. Water quality can affect fish populations, which can impact the amount of people that go fishing or decide to purchase fishing licenses.
  • DEP
  • This department creates and enforces statewide water quality policy.
  • Fishermen
    • Water quality and stream health is vital to fish health as well. Many native fish, especially trout, require specific water conditions. If these are altered, the population takes a hit.
  • Recreation Seekers
    • Water quality, especially bacteria levels, can impact the safety of those using Schuylkill waterways recreationally.

Luckily, many organizations have stepped up to help protect and monitor Schuylkill County’s water quality. Schuylkill Action Network has had many successful projects, including the 2004 Bell Colliery Treatment System. (4). This project was to help clean the water from Schuylkill County’s Bell Colliery Drift, which was heavily polluted with acid mine drainage. (4). The passive treatment system includes limestone to de-acidify the water and a wetland cell to catch heavy metals before the water can enter the Schuylkill River. (4). This project can be classified as sustainable with the class definition due to its economic and environmental benefits. The project helps to clean and protect the environment while providing quality jobs to do so. 

Another organization that helps to keep Schuylkill County’s water clean is Schuylkill River Greenways. They had a community-based project called the “Schuylkill River Partner Water Quality Project” which utilized community volunteers to assess 100 foot sections of the Schuylkill River for debris and dumping. (6). Users fill out a five-minute form to assess the area. (6). This is a fantastic project because it not only provides useful data, it gets local community members involved and invested in the environment. Plus, it is an accessible form, which makes the barrier to the activity relatively low. 

The Schuylkill County Conservation District has various departments that help to keep pollution levels low, including the department of Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control. (7). The department enforces the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) regulations to limit erosion and sedimentation from construction sites that would erode into stormwater. (7). This local department provides permits for construction sites and for erosion and sediment control plans. (7). This department may be considered sustainable by upholding environmental regulations to help protect local land and by providing an economic benefit for those employed and collection permit fees.

Limitations to projects and organizations like these often come down to funding. Schuylkill Action Network’s  Bell Colliery Treatment System cost over a third of a million dollars, and that is just one of many projects. (4). Schuylkill Action Network argues that while environmental cleanup may be expensive, the harms of pollution may be even more costly. (4). Another barrier could be bureaucratic hoops. For example, the Schuylkill Conservation District must adhere to the statewide policy, which may affect local policies that they would prefer to initiate. (7). 

Solutions to these barriers and future efforts to protect Schuylkill County’s water can be solved by effective funding and community effort. Schuylkill Action Network and the Schuylkill Conservation district may apply for additional grants from the state or federal government for clean-up efforts, especially those pertaining to abandoned mine drainage. Community effort and change is another worthy solution. If local citizens become more invested in the state of the county’s water, they can band together and advocate for increased conservation efforts. This kind of collectivity can also aid in efforts themselves as volunteers, which can save the Conservation District project funds.

Further assets to water related solutions: 

  • Schuylkill Conservation District
  • Schuylkill County Government
  • Schuylkill Municipal Authority
  • Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
  • DEP
  • Philadelphia River Cast
  • Schuylkill River Greenways

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. Philly RiverCast. 2024. “Schuylkill River.” Philly RiverCast
  2. Schuylkill County Municipal Authority. 2022. “Annual Drinking Water Quality Report.” irections for completing (scmawater.com)
  3. EWG Tap Water Database. 2021. “Schuylkill County Municipal Authority.” EWG Tap Water Database | Schuylkill County. Municipal Authority Schuylkill Action Network. 2024. “Abandoned Mine Drainage.” Abandoned Mine Drainage | Schuykill Action Network (schuylkillwaters.org)
  4. EPA. 2021. “Nonpoint Source: Agriculture.” Nonpoint Source: Agriculture | US EPA
  5. Schuylkill River Greenways. 2024. “Community Members Needed to Help Rate the Schuylkill River.”Schuylkill River Water Quality Project – Schuylkill River Greenways
  6. Schuylkill Conservation District. 2024. “Erosion & Sediment Pollution Control.” Schuylkill Conservation District – Erosion & Sediment Control Program (schuylkillcd.com)
  7. Jill Kulbitsky. 2024. Interview.
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