DEP@Home Webinar on Sept. 19 to Focus on Water Wellness

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Environmental Protection's next "DEP@Home" webinar will be on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m., to educate participants about maintaining on-lot sewage and private water systems.

"Statewide, roughly two million Pennsylvanians rely on private water wells," DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. "And according to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, about 40 percent of private water wells have failed at least one Safe Drinking Water Act water quality standard, and about 20 percent of private water wells show some levels of methane.

"Providing this webinar is an important step in educating Pennsylvanians about how to take care of their drinking water sources."

The webinar will last no longer than an hour and will include a question-and-answer session with Bryan Swistock of Penn State Cooperative Extension's Pennsylvania Master Well Owners Network and John Diehl of DEP's Bureau of Point and Non-Point Source Management.

The Master Well Owners Network seeks to train volunteers around the state to help educate rural homeowners about the proper management of private water wells, springs and cisterns. DEP's Bureau of Point and Non-Point Source Management regulates on-lot sewage systems, helping to ensure that water is safe.

This webinar comes just one week after national "Protect Your Groundwater Day" on Sept. 11, which reminded residents that proper management of groundwater and private well systems positively impacts water quality and public health.

The webinar is the second in a series of free, quarterly webinars produced by DEP and aimed at educating families about improving their home environment and safeguarding their health. Future topics will focus on energy conservation and radon testing and mitigation.

For more information or to participate in the webinar, please visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click the "DEP@Home" button on the homepage. Space is limited and participation is based on a first-come, first-served basis.

Editor's Note:  Future webinar topics are listed below. Dates and times will be announced later.

October 2012 - Watts Up?: Learn some simple energy conservation tips to prepare for the change of the seasons.

January 2013 - The Reality of Radon: Learn about testing for and mitigating radon.

Media contact: Amanda Witman, 717-787-1323

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

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