Water extraction is not limited to West Penn Township, officials were told at Monday's board of supervisors meeting.

Resident Timothy Houser, a former township supervisor,said it seems the only way to regulate water extraction would be for the township to get together with other municipalities.The township's quest to fight water extraction by itself is "like going out into a hurricane and trying to stay dry," he said."There are a lot of municipalities that are dealing with water extraction," he said. "You've got to get more municipalities involved."Resident Gary Steigerwalt said he agreed, and added, "If my well goes dry, what's my property worth?Further discussion on the matter ensued when resident Dennis Resh said he'd heard a rumor that a water extraction applicant donated money to the township.Supervisors confirmed that the board recently received a $6,000 donation.Resh then asked if that was setting a precedent in the township.Supervisor Ted Bogosh said the person already had his permits and has been conducting his operations for several years.Resh then asked if accepting money via that means was appropriate.Supervisor Anthony Prudenti, who previously voted to not accept the donation, responded "no."James J. Land Jr., who owns a company that is a partner in MC Resource Development, the company embroiled in a lawsuit over water extraction, said that while he never personally wrote a check to the township, MC Resource Development did.Regardless, Resh told the board he did not agree with the township accepting money in such a fashion.In June, supervisors on a 2-1 vote accepted a $6,000 donation from MC Resource Development, the existing water extraction operation in neighboring East Brunswick Township.The matter came to light after township solicitor Holly Heintzelman said she received a letter dated May 31 signed by Land, who is president and owner of Ringgold Acquisition Group II LLC at the proposed West Penn site on 1 Fort Franklin Road.In the letter, Land said the check and donation was from MC Resource Development, and not himself, and that it is the result of a promise made to the township roadmaster in 2015. He said that MC Resource Development made a similar donation at that time.Land said the donation is made to the general road fund, and should be used at the discretion of the roadmaster as directed by the board of supervisors. However, there is no requirement that it be used on Kepners Road.On Jan. 13, a group of residents filed a lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County against businesses and people associated with water extraction operations in the township. The lawsuit was filed by 30 plaintiffs who live near a pair of water extraction sites, according to their attorney, John Kotsatos, of the Law Offices of John E. Kotsatos in Easton.At the center of the lawsuit is the water extraction site at the intersection of Kepners Road and Blue Mountain Drive, and a newer water extraction site being erected at 1 Fort Franklin Road.Land said the East Brunswick Township site, under the name MC Resource Development Co., has been in operation since around 2002.