A West Penn Township resident has questioned officials about water extraction several days before the township’s new zoning ordinance is presented.

Ted Rosen, chairman of the West Penn Township Water Resource & Planning Steering Committee, asked supervisors on Monday if water extraction will be included in the township’s new zoning ordinance.

Additionally, Rosen asked if the ordinance will touch on drought situations, and noted that the water extraction company has applied for a permit from the Delaware River Basin Commission.

Supervisors said that the DRBC is monitoring it, and that they are under the threshold.

The township’s planning commission will hold a public meeting on the proposed new zoning ordinance at 7 p.m. Monday.

There will be an informal open house at 6:30 p.m.

The proposed new zoning ordinance would regulate the uses of land and structures, with various standards in different zoning districts.

It would also regulate signs, parking, the location and height of structures, and changes to existing structures, lots and uses that do not “conform” to the ordinance.

The ordinance would also include enforcement and penalty provisions.

It also includes zoning districts; allowed uses in each district; dimensional requirements for each district; additional requirements for specific uses; environmental protection; off-street parking and loading; signs; general regulations; administration and enforcement; definitions and a new zoning map.

A copy of the proposed ordinance is available for review at the township building during regular business hours.

Last month, then Supervisor Ted Bogosh submitted a letter that said at the request of Rosen, he called the DRBC project review official.

Bogosh said the official said a USGS well in the Fort Franklin area has been monitoring groundwater for over 30 years. The Fort Franklin wells are well below DRBC monitoring requirements; are required to report their water withdrawal to DEP; and their consumption can be viewed by logging in to the DEP website.

Any approved increases above 100,000 gallons per day will result in monitoring, as the DRBC does have the authority to restrict ground water withdrawal if drought or problems occur, according to Bogosh.

Bogosh added that the DRBC does not monitor small local springs and streams, but does monitor major waterways. By measuring the mouth of rivers, the agency is able to assess ground water conditions.

He said complaints about water can be presented to DRBC and DEP directly or through the township office.

Bogosh noted that all new wells are recorded at the Schuylkill County courthouse.

In November, township solicitor Paul J. Datte said that the township’s water extraction ordinance should be finalized within the next few months.

It could be slated for the first quarter of 2020 for final adoption.

Curtin & Heefner LLP Attorneys at Law are reviewing the draft water extraction ordinance and assisting the township in determining the best options for resolution of water extraction issues.

The West Penn Township Water Resource & Planning Steering Committee and planning commission recommended authorizing attorney Jordan Yeager’s firm and hydrogeologist Phil Getty to make revisions to the draft water extraction ordinance.

The committee recommended incorporating any use that results in more than 1,000 gallons per day, with considerations for multiple wells or developments on a particular property and sensitivity to the farm community.

They should also consider truck traffic and use, and costs and fees to the township.