Grove Park Residents – Quarterly Blow Offs

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

Drought Watch Lifted – Effective 08/24/2023

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

Drought Watch – Effective 06/15/2023

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.

Ways to conserve water at home:

• 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

Lead & Copper Rule Revisions – Service Line Inventory

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

Quarterly Blow Offs – Grove Park Residents

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

Drought Watch Declaration

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.

Ways to conserve water at home:

• 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

Fire Hydrant/Water Main Flushing – August 2022

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

Quarterly Blow Offs – 03/22/2022

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.

Grove Park Nitrate Levels

The Benner Township Water Authority is required to complete quarterly testing of the Nitrate levels in the Grove Park Well.

Grove Park Nitrate Levels

2011-2023

DateNitrate Level
2/14/20115.17 mg/L
3/4/20117.16 mg/L
4/8/20116.65 mg/L
7/8/20116.75 mg/L
10/7/20117.09 mg/L
1/6/20126.89 mg/L
4/6/20126.73 mg/L
7/5/20127.54 mg/L
10/5/20127.76 mg/L
1/4/20138.03 mg/L
4/4/20137.80 mg/L
7/12/20135.42 mg/L
10/4/20138.15 mg/L
2/21/20148.09 mg/L
4/18/20148.03 mg/L
7/16/20147.72 mg/L
10/3/20147.86 mg/L
1/2/20158.48 mg/L
4/3/20157.50 mg/L
7/2/20157.46 mg/L
10/2/20157.54 mg/L
1/7/20167.99 mg/L
4/8/20167.66 mg/L
7/8/20168.33 mg/L
10/7/20168.26 mg/L
1/6/20178.24 mg/L
4/7/20177.96 mg/L
7/7/20177.67 mg/L
12/15/20178.80 mg/L
1/5/20188.68 mg/L
4/6/20188.42 mg/L
7/5/20188.46 mg/L
10/4/20186.77 mg/L
1/3/20196.39 mg/L
4/4/20195.96 mg/L
7/3/20193.53 mg/L
10/3/20197.51 mg/L
01/02/20208.23 mg/L
04/03/20208.07 mg/L
07/03/20208.16 mg/L
10/02/20208.84 mg/L
01/07/20218.58 mg/L
04/01/20218.57 mg/L
07/01/20218.11 mg/L
10/07/20218.24 mg/L
01/06/20228.88 mg/L
04/07/20227.97 mg/L
07/07/20228.17 mg/L
10/06/20228.77 mg/L
01/05/20238.87 mg/L
04/06/20238.76 mg/L
07/06/20239.04 mg/L
10/05/20239.05 mg/L

Please click on the graph image below to enlarge it.

Grove Park Generator – Update

The Grove Park Generator has been installed at the well house. The maintenance crew has done a wonderful job in getting the well house prepared for the new generator. As you can see below, it has been installed and is ready for inspection.

The job is not completely finished yet. BTWA is still working on obtaining and installing the propane tanks. We are hoping to have them installed within the next week or two. We will keep you all updated on the progress of the generator.

Picture courtesy of Steve Lanich, BTWA Board Member.

Grove Park Generator

Grove Park Generator