Carbon County Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard wants people to know how important clean water is to Pennsylvania's quality of life.

"It's extremely important that we support the Clean Water Act," he said.At a public meeting Thursday, Gerhard read from a press release issued by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Clean Water Counts campaign."According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's most recent statewide water quality survey, nearly one-quarter, almost 20,000 miles, of the creeks, rivers and lakes that we rely on for recreation, and for drinking and household uses, are polluted."CBF is urging Pennsylvania officials to make clean water a priority throughout the Keystone State, and to commit the needed funding to ensure that all 83,000 miles of waterways in the state are clean," he read."Healthy families, strong communities and a thriving Pennsylvania economy depend on it," said Harry Campbell, CBF's Pennsylvania executive director. "That's why we're calling on the state to prioritize clean water and funding to decrease pollution from agricultural activities and runoff from our urban and suburban communities."The foundation is also calling on public officials, as well as the public, to do their part."We're asking all Pennsylvania residents to show their support for clean water by signing the Clean Water Counts online petition," Campbell said."And we're asking county commissioners throughout the state to adopt clean water resolutions to further encourage state officials to prioritize clean water."Gerhard encouraged Carbon County residents to sign the Clean Water Counts online petition. Signatures will be accepted through Oct. 18, the anniversary of the Clean Water Act.To learn more about the campaign, go to

www.cbf.org/PAForCleanWater.