Environmental and water issues central at Dingman meeting

By Anya Tikka
DINGMAN TOWNSHIP — Dingman Township supervisors tackled a full plate of water and environmental issues at a recent meeting.
Preparing for disaster — Dingman is taking part in the Pike County Hazard Mitigation Plan by sending EMS personnel to attend meetings. Pike County stands to get some grant money through its participation in the plan.
All residents are encouraged to take a survey at pikecountypahmp.com. It says the project's goal is to save lives and property by reducing hazards in Pike County that make it vulnerable to "floods, hurricanes, wildfires, landslides, tornadoes, earthquakes, (and) dam failures," as well as “human-caused hazards."
Water-sharing — A water-sharing arrangement up for renewal authorized the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Milford to maintain its current withdrawal of up to 500,000 gallons per day for its public water supply. It's drawn from springs located 1,200 feet northeast of the borough, according to CDM Smith, an environmental engineering company representing Milford Borough,
An application will be sent to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for approval.
Impact fees fund projects — Dingman will apply for grants funded by drilling-related impact fees in the Marcellus shale. Eligible projects include: park and recreational development, greenways and trails enhancement, and river access improvements. The Pike County Conservation District grant may provide supplemental funding to dirt, gravel, and low-volume road applicants in the district. Grants may come from the Pike County Scenic Rural Character Preservation program. In addition, the Pike County Conservation District applied for a grant to fund training in "environmentally sensitive maintenance."
Drought watch — A drought watch for Pike County is in effect, issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP wants water users in the county to reduce their use voluntarily by 5 percent by: avoiding running faucets unnecessarily; checking for household leaks in toilets and other problem spots; running dishwashers and washing machines with full loads; and replacing old appliances with new, high-efficiency ones. Low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets are also recommended.