May. 01, 2025
YORK – Members of the York County Republican delegation praised work of York County officials accurately capturing water pollutant data in our region. The delegation consists of Sens. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and Dawn Keefer (R-York/Cumberland); and Reps. Seth Grove (R-Dover), Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), Mike Jones (R-York Township), Joe D’Orsie (R-Manchester), Marc Anderson (R-Dillsburg) and Wendy Fink (R-Red Lion).
Thanks to proactive leadership from the York County Commissioners, the York County Planning Commission and a key partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), we now know York County’s water pollutant levels are much lower than originally thought. This partnership provides statistically significant data which reflects York countians’ positive impact throughout the Susquehanna Watershed.
While the 10-year partnership with USGS to monitor York County streams and river sections has reached its midway point, the data reveals huge discrepancies with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) figures which are based on computer modeling. We also commend DEP for its public statement of support for the efforts by York County to ascertain real data which show water quality improvements over time. We welcome DEP “working with York, utilizing that data to demonstrate Pennsylvania’s progress – in our reporting and success stories – toward our water quality goals as we work with other jurisdictions in the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership.”
The York County delegation stands ready to work with state and federal entities to ensure success and York County gets the credit it deserves.