DEP Releases Draft 2022 Pennsylvania State Water Plan 

The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released the draft 2022 Pennsylvania State Water Plan identifying regional and statewide water resources priorities and recommending statewide and legislative actions to address those priorities. Township officials may review the draft plan and comments on it by September 19.  The plan is a collaboration between DEP, regional committees, and a statewide committee. 

Comments can be made online through the DEP eComment system, may be emailed to ecomment@pa.gov, or can be mailed to the DEP Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063 Harrisburg, PA 17105. All comments must include the commenter’s name and address and be received by September 19 at 11:59 p.m. PSATS will provide comments from a statewide perspective. Township officials should pay particular attention to regional priorities, as well as any unfunded mandates, and provide input as appropriate.   

The draft 2022 State Water Plan recommends that over 100 actions be continued, expanded on, or initiated in flood control, stormwater management, water withdrawal, legacy coal mining impacts, legacy oil and gas wells, drinking water and wastewater treatment, contaminants of emerging concern, and agricultural nonpoint source pollution. These include recommendations for the General Assembly to consider, such as establishing water well-drilling construction standards and funding for stormwater and sewage management planning efforts. Pennsylvania has six water planning regions and recommendations are based on these regions.  

The plan recommends strengthening the link between land use and water resources and promotes an integrated water resources management approach. To reduce the impact of flooding, the plan recommends investing in enhanced flood forecast and warning systems and updating floodplain and flood insurance maps.