Groundwater committee presents 25 years of monitoring, launches website

Carrie Manfreno, a scientist and volunteer with the Bridgerton/Nockmixon/Tinicum Groundwater Management Committee, told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 3 that the group has compiled about 25 years of data from roughly 30–40 wells and has ‘‘started emphasizing more water quality initiatives and work that we need to do as individual homeowners.’’ The committee also announced a revised website, bntgmc.org, where residents can find monitoring data and guidance for private-well testing.

Chair of the committee Tom Etcoff, who attended the meeting, left homeowner information packets with the township and encouraged residents to contact the committee with questions. Vice chair Dr. Steven Donovan explained why the board should require both flow and pump tests: a short-term flow test can show whether a well supplies two houses, he said, but ‘‘just the flow test itself doesn’t really address the sustainability’’ of a shared aquifer and a longer pump test is needed to assess recharge. The committee urged follow-up actions including finalizing a groundwater ordinance and adding a water-quality chapter to Tinicum’s comprehensive plan; the board acknowledged those items will need staff and planning-commission review before formal adoption.