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
** Update 10/24/2022 @ 8:46 AM **
Water service has been restored to Buttercup Way. If you experience any issues please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778.
** Update 10/24/2022 @ 7:31 AM **
Buttercup Way Residents – Water will be off on 10/24/2022 from 8:30 AM through 11:00 AM. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.
** Update 10/21/2022 @ 2:52 PM **
The Benner Township Water Authority is still looking for the water leak. There is a planned interruption in water service scheduled for Monday, October 24, 2022 starting at 3:00 a.m. through 5:00 a.m. Residents may experience a loss in water pressure during this time.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office at 814-355-4778.
** 10/20/2022 @ Update 11:35 AM **
Opequon residents may experience loss in water from 12:30 p.m. through 1:30 p.m. today, 10/20/2022.
10/20/2022
Attention Hampton Hills & Opequon Residents:
The Benner Township Water Authority is currently looking for a water leak within your neighborhood. You may experience a difference in water pressure during this time.
We will keep this page updated as more information becomes available. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.
Sincerely,
Benner Township Water Authority
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) has issues 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
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
Benner Township Water Authority will be completing quarterly blow offs on March 22, 2022. Residents may experience low water pressure during this time.
Grove Park residents may experience a difference in water pressure at approximately 10:00 a.m.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our Authority office.
Thank you for your understanding.
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
The Benner Township Water Authority completed some upgrades to the well house located at 430 Millgate Road. Perhaps you have seen our crew working at the building which included the addition of a generator room and a 25-kilowatt generator that we received from the Centre County Government at no charge.
This will allow the system to continue to operate uninterrupted during power outages. Our tank already maintains more than a one-day supply of water; however, during a power outage there was no way to maintain the tank level in case of emergency where a significant water supply is needed immediately.
We have also replaced the red light on the outside of the building which is wired to turn on in case of a failure within the pump house. If anyone happens to see a red light illuminated on the well house please contact our office immediately at 814-355-4778 during normal business hours. After hours, weekends, and holidays we can be reached 24 hours a day by calling the Centre County Emergency Communication Center at their non-emergency number (1-800-479-0050) and they will contact us.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Benner Township Water Authority has been made aware that the State of Pennsylvania did random water testing for PFAS across the state. One of the wells tested was located in Benner Township at the State of the Art facility which is located across from the University Park Airport. PFAS was found in this well.
The PA Environmental Quality Board amended Chapter 109 (relating to safe drinking water) on January 14, 2023 regarding the maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for PFOS and PFOA as 18 parts per trillion (ppt) and 14 parts per trillion , respectively. You can read more about this here.
Here is the link that DEP shared with Benner Township regarding PFAS/PFOA in the township.
Here is the link to the PFAS Action Team Initial Report.
Here is the link to PA DEP’s website regarding what PFAS is, it’s history, and the impacts it has on the environment.
Here is the link to PA DOH’s website regarding PFAS.
Here is PA DEP’s PFAS Sampling Plan.
Here is PA DEP’s 2020 PFAS Sampling Report.
Here is PA DEP’s 2019 PFAS Sampling Report.
Here is Governor Wolf Administration’s latest Press Release regarding PFAS (03/12/2021)
Here is the link to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) page regarding what PFAS is and what ATSDR is doing to assist.
Here is the link to PA DEP’s Benner Township HSCA Investigation Information Page.
Below is the link to EPA’s informational page regarding PFAS, which includes basic information, actions to address, and tools and resources.
Listed below are three different laboratories that test for PFAS.
1037 MacArthur Rd, Reading, PA 19605
610-375-8378
https://www.suburbantestinglabs.com/
Eurofins Environmental Testing – Pittsburg
301 Alpha Drive, RIDC Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
412-963-7058
Eurofins Environmental Testing – Lancaster
2425 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601
717-656-2300
2829 Reach Road, Williamsport, PA 17701
570-326-4001
John Ciccone Phone: (570)321-6594 email: jciccone@pa.gov
Cheryl Sinclair Phone: (570)327-3418 email: csinclair@pa.gov
Benner Township also has a page on their website labeled “PFAS” which they have been keeping updated as well.