Hello Residents,
The Benner Township Water Authority will be completing quarterly blow offs Monday, September 11, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to approximately 12:00 p.m. Residents may experience a reduction in water pressure during this time.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778.
Sincerely,
Benner Township Water Authority
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) announced on August 24, 2023 after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force that the drought watch has been lifted for 47 counties and remains for 20 counties. Centre County is among the 47 counties that the drought watch has been lifted. You can review the full press release here.
Thank you for your assistance in conserving water during this time. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778.
Sincerely,
Benner Township Water Authority
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) has issued a drought watch across multiple counties including Centre. The declaration is in response to low stream flows, declining groundwater levels, and below-normal precipitation primarily across counties in the northern and eastern portions of Pennsylvania.
Residents are asked to reduce water use by 5%-10% through voluntary conservation measures.
• Run water only when necessary. Don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth or shaving. Shorten the time you let the water run to warm up before showering.
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often, and only with full loads.
• Water your garden in the cooler evening or morning hours, and direct the water to the ground at the base of the plant, so you don’t waste water through evaporation.
• Water your lawn only if necessary. Apply no more than 1 inch of water per week (use an empty can to determine how long it takes to water 1 inch). Avoid watering on windy and hot days. This pattern will encourage healthier, deeper grass roots. Over-watering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and disease, and results in shallow, compacted root systems that are more susceptible to drought.
• When mowing your lawn, set the blades to 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil, improving moisture retention. It also grows thicker and develops a deeper root system, so it can better survive drought.
• Check for and repair household leaks. For example, a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily.
• Sweep your sidewalk, deck, or driveway instead of hosing it off.
• Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30 percent less water and 40-50 percent less energy.
• Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets.
• Set up a rain barrel to be ready to repurpose rain when it does fall.
For more information please use the Drought Information Center on PA DEP’s website : https://www.dep.pa.gov/business/water/planningconservation/drought/pages/default.aspx
Hello Residents of the Hampton/Opequon, and Grove Park Water Systems,
You will be receiving a letter in the mail requesting to allow our Authority personnel into your homes to complete a service line inventory survey. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in January 2021, published the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) which requires all community and nontransient noncommunity water systems to submit this service line inventory to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) by October 2024 (click here to find more information on PA DEP’s website regarding the LCRR).
The Benner Township Water Authority’s water main system is virtually lead-free; however, the water service line running from the water main into your home may consist of lead. We are updating our records and working towards a lead-free water supply system for our customers. We would like to verify and confirm the type of water service line coming from the water main in the street to your home as well as your internal plumbing material.
This inventory survey is just the first step of the new requirements for public water systems regarding lead and copper; therefore, we would like to collect as much information as possible now to aid in a smoother transition going forward. This information will also assist us with our current lead and copper sampling plan that is required by PA DEP.
Once you receive your letter in the mail, please contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778 to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Benner Township Water Authority
Hello Residents,
The Benner Township Water Authority will be completing quarterly blow offs Monday, March 6, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to approximately 12:00 p.m. Residents may experience a reduction in water pressure during this time.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778.
Sincerely,
Benner Township Water Authority
Benner Township Water Authority will begin water main and fire hydrant flushing the morning of August 16, 2022 in Grove Park and Hampton Hills. Residents may experience temporary discoloration of water and a temporary reduction in water pressure between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778. Sincerely,Benner Township Water Authority
** Update **
As of Friday, August 6, 2021, all work at the Hampton Hills Tank has been completed. Water usage may resume as normal. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this long process. We understand it was an inconvenience; however, it was for the good of the community and longevity of the tank to have these repairs completed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778.
Sincerely,
Benner Township Water Authority
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Hello Neighbors,
Here you can find the letter that was hand delivered on June 30, 2021 to each property within Hampton Hills/Opequon developments regarding the upcoming tank repairs.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778.
Sincerely,
Benner Township Water Authority
The Benner Township Water Authority (BTWA) has been discussing the development of a new well to supplement and replace the Grove Park well. This well has an elevated nitrate level that is nearing the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per million (ppm). Consuming nitrates may affect the human body causing what is known as methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder that affects the body’s ability to transport oxygen in our blood.
The BTWA has completed many tests for nitrates in private wells within Benner Township including the areas of Upper Seibert Road, Willowbend Development, Raymonds Lane, Lower Gyp Road and Buffalo Run Road, near the vicinity of the Benner Elementary School. All private wells tested contained various levels of nitrates. As a result of the testing of these private wells and hydrogeological work, we have located a major fault in the bedrock that has a relatively low level of nitrates.
We are currently planning the development of a municipal well along Raymonds Lane or Upper Seibert Road to serve our current customers. The well would be located near this fault in the bedrock to avoid higher nitrate levels and infrastructure would need to be constructed to connect to our existing water system at the Grove Park development. The location of the infrastructure may depend upon whether or not any of the homes in this area are interested in connecting to the public water system.
If you live in the Upper Seibert Road, Raymonds Lane or Willowbend Development areas and have any interest in connecting to our public water system please call our office at 814-355-4778 to discuss this further.
If you are interested in having the nitrate level of your well tested, we can also assist you with having this testing completed. A typical test consists of determining the nitrate and nitrite levels in the sample. The current cost for this testing is $80.00 at Fairway Laboratories in Altoona. Fairway Laboratories completes most of the analytical testing for the public water systems in the surrounding area.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any details of our planning, please contact our office at 814-355-4778.
** Update on 09/16/2020 **
The Hampton Hills/Opequon water system is back to normal and the water tank is once again regulating pressure and providing fire protection for the neighborhood.
The tank inspection went as expected and it was determined the interior of the tank needs the seal replaced. Structurally, the tank interior is in very good condition likely due to the water characteristics pumped from our wells.
The work to replace the interior seals will be scheduled to take place next spring. This will require our system to be placed back on the temporary pressure pumps through completion of the work.
We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as our maintenance crew works to keep your water system running efficiently to provide you with an endless supply of potable water at the lowest possible cost.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office.
** Update on 09/11/2020 **
Just a reminder that the Hampton Hills Storage Tank has been emptied today for inspection tomorrow, 09/12/2020. During this time there will be no fire protection so please use caution over the weekend. Our Authority hopes to have the tank filled on Monday, 9/14. Once completed, we will need to complete a bacteria test before we can place the storage tank back into commission. If the bacteria test is clear we hope to have the tank back into commission on Tuesday, 9/15.
We will continue to update this page. Thank you for your patience and understand during this time.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778.
** Update on 09/04/2020 **
Please click here for the Memo that was hand delivered to residents today, September 4, 2020, regarding the Hampton Hills/Opequon Water Tank Inspection. The test run we completed on 09/03/2020 through 09/04/2020 was successful.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778.
September 2, 2020
The water storage tank within the Hampton Hills development that provides water service to Hampton Hills, Opequon Hills, Edward Drive, Reichenbaugh Lane and the Benner Elementary School is in need of maintenance work. The seals on this stainless-steel, bolted tank need to be repaired as seepage has been noted at several bolts. An internal inspection of the tank will need completed which will require the Benner Township Water Authority to completely drain the water storage tank.
Temporary storage tanks will be installed at the Hampton Hills well house on September 2, 2020 to aid in providing continuous water service to the affected customers of the Benner Township Water Authority within these areas.
We have tentatively scheduled the work to occur on Saturday, September 12, 2020 and will provide additional information once we are able to verify the temporary storage tanks will adequately provide water service throughout this inspection and much needed repairs.
Please note that when the water tank is not in service bags will be placed over the fire hydrants indicating there is no fire protection. Our Authority has contacted the 911 Emergency Center and local fire companies to make them aware in case of an emergency. Please use caution during this time.
If there are any questions, please contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778.
Thank You.
Benner Township Water Authority will begin water main flushing and fire hydrant flushing the week of 08/10/2020 and will continue for the next three weeks. Residents may experience temporary discoloration of water and a temporary reduction in water pressure between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office.
Thank you,
BTWA