The operator of a water extraction operation, MC Resource Development Co. in East Brunswick Township, wants to expand with a new facility in West Penn Township.

But the proposed operation at 1 Fort Franklin Road is meeting with opposition by concerned residents.There appear to be at least two major issues. First, residents say they're already inconvenienced by existing truck traffic from the operation.A new facility in West Penn would bring even more truck traffic to rural Blue Mountain Drive and Dorset and Retreat roads.The township intends to hire an engineer to drill bore holes to see if those roads can handle a steady flow of heavy trucks. After all, the roads weren't designed to be industrial haul routes.The move to drill bore holes and incur costs is a necessary step. But many feel taxpayers shouldn't be the ones to pay the bill. They're asking why local residents should shoulder expenses associated with a private, for-profit business.A second concern has the potential to be even more worrisome.It's the fear that a growing need for clean water would eventually compromise the area's water supply."We can live with roads that are bad, but we can't live without water," said Fran Kovaleski of Blue Mountain Drive during a residents' meeting last week.There are many related questions.For example, how much water can be drawn safely before there's a negative effect locally?Has the issued been studied?Residents are justified in wanting to know answers. In the meantime, West Penn Township already has issued a water harvesting permit to the firm. But controls are limited.Surprisingly, Pennsylvania lacks a statewide comprehensive water withdrawal regulation. That's not to say there's an automatic go-ahead given to any party seeking to dip into the water supply.The state Department of Environmental Protection examines such requests.The DEP requires proof of the need for water and that the taking of it won't jeopardize public safety or cause injury to the state.That measure offers some reassurance, but is far from absolute protection.State oversight often means little.Consider the toxic Superfund sites that have dotted our region for decades. Those major problems were manufactured under the oversight of the DEP and its predecessor, the Department of Environmental Resources.In other words, state oversight allowed toxic dumps to be created in our neighborhoods, a reality which continues to adversely impact the area.It's good to know West Penn residents are organizing a grassroots effort to scrutinize the water-harvesting proposal and any potential chance of harm.Nobody has more to lose than local homeowners, so it's important for them to be astute and well-informed.It's in their own best interests to protect themselves and not depend on a bureaucracy to do it. In our region, history has shown it's never a good idea to allow the fox to guard the henhouse.By DONALD R. SERFASSdserfass@tnonline.com