Protecting our Water: A Regional Milestone

In October 2024, our local water systems reached an important milestone: the completion of the Mount Gretna Region Water System Source Water Protection Plan in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This was not a requirement handed down by state or federal regulators. Instead, the Mount Gretna Authority, Mount Gretna Campmeeting Association, and Mount Gretna Heights Water System chose to invest the time, expertise, and community input needed to create a plan that would protect our drinking water before problems arise. That choice—and the collaboration it required—is worth recognizing.

A Source Water Protection Plan is more than a document; it’s a structured, science-based look at where our drinking water comes from, what could threaten it, and how to protect it. For this plan, technical consultants and DEP staff worked with our local systems to map the areas that feed our wells, study the geology that carries water underground, and review decades of water quality data. They inventoried possible pollution risks—such as road runoff, storage tanks, and pesticide use—and assessed how likely each is to reach our water. They also mapped “protection zones” around the wells, outlined emergency response procedures, and recommended voluntary strategies for long-term stewardship.

Following its review, DEP determined that the plan meets all minimum elements for local Source Water Protection programs and formally approved it in accordance with state regulations. In other words, DEP’s approval affirms that this is a complete, enforceable plan—not a superficial formality. Going beyond the minimum would mean taking more of the plan’s recommended management strategies from paper to practice. The plan outlines these strategies in detail — from specific land-use protections to public education efforts — giving us a clear path for strengthening our safeguards if we choose.

But here’s where the story gets personal. Our wells are not far-off or abstract; they sit right here within the boundaries of Mount Gretna Borough, drawing from groundwater that flows beneath every forest, path, and backyard in our community. In fact, essentially the entire Borough lies within the Zone III protection area for these wells, with some areas falling into the even more sensitive Zones I and II (exceptions are small portions at the end of Lancaster and Yale Avenues and State Avenue). Practically every home in Mount Gretna lies within the protection area for our wells. Some fall into the most sensitive zones, meaning everyday choices—like yard care, runoff, or tree removals—directly affect what comes out of the tap.

Aquifer? What's an aquifer?

Understanding what an aquifer is helps put our local water story in perspective. An aquifer is an underground layer of rock, sand, or gravel that holds water and allows it to move slowly through the spaces in between. Our wells tap directly into this natural reservoir beneath Mount Gretna Borough. Because the aquifer is recharged by rain and snow filtering down through the ground, whatever happens on the land above it can potentially affect the water below.

That’s where our forested areas come in. Trees and undisturbed soils help filter water, slow runoff, and protect the recharge zones that feed our wells. When those lands are cared for, they act as a natural safeguard for our drinking water; when they’re disturbed or poorly managed, pollutants can find their way into the aquifer more easily.

In the pages that follow, we’ll examine what makes our aquifer unique, why it is more vulnerable to certain pollutants, and how each of us can play a role in keeping it clean—starting with the land that feeds it.

These Water pages focus on Mount Gretna’s wells, but the lessons apply anywhere: clean water depends on how we care for the land above it.