Groundwater Guardian Community Profile

Lebanon County, PA  -  US

Years Designated: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996

Community Profile:

The 120,000 people who live in Lebanon County receive 55 percent of their drinking water from area groundwater supplies. Community and private wells located in the limestone agricultural area of the county currently have problems with high levels of nitrates. In addition, many private wells in the county have problems with bacterial contamination. Lebanon County uses the Groundwater Guardian program to educate farmers, landowners, watershed groups, municipalities, water suppliers and the public about nonpoint source pollution and groundwater protection. The team works to provide information and resources demonstrating best practices to protect our water resources and will encourage and assist in the implementation of protection programs.

Result Oriented Activities:

• Continued to facilitate the installation of best management practices on dairy and livestock farms in county watersheds. To date, over 1,000 landowners, volunteers and the general public have been impacted.
• The Lebanon County Conservation District has a Watershed Specialist on staff to work with watershed and conservation organizations of Lebanon County. The specialist has conducted various environmental education programs throughout the year for schools, camps, business groups and others. The specialist is working with a coalition of partners to form The Lower Susquehanna Center for Land and Water. The specialist also helped complete a 1,235 square foot rain garden.
• Began implementation of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) program as required by the Phase II NPDES stormwater regulations including public education and outreach on storm water impacts through written information and storm drain stenciling; provided the "After the Storm" brochure to applicable departments; converted outfall map from hand mapping to geographic information system; continued to maintain county storm water management regulations.
• Hosted two rain barrel workshops which included demonstrations on how to assemble and install them. The workshops were attended by 70 people with 64 rain barrels distributed.

Community Contact:

Stephanie M. Harmon
Lebanon County Groundwater Education Team
2120 Cornwall Road Suite 5
Lebanon, PA    17042    US

Phone:717-272-3908 x4

Fax:717-272-5314

E-mail: stephanie.harmon@pa.nacdnet.net

Website: www.lccd.org