Water At Risk: Clean Water, Shared Commitment - Behind The Scenes In Monroe County

By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association

As addictive as they are, your cell phone and social media don’t make the list of things that actually are essential to human life. 

Air, food, shelter, sleep, water. That’s what we really, truly need. 

And in the Brodhead watershed of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, you would be surprised how much behind-the-scenes work goes into making sure our drinking water is clean, pure, safe.

Homeowners are on the frontline, accountable for keeping their septic system working safely — for their own good, but also to protect their neighbors and everyone downstream. 

Township sewage enforcement officers back them up, with the “power and duty to issue, deny and revoke permits” for septic systems. 

Their work helps keep the entire community’s water protected. Many private communities have their own water supply and sewage treatment systems.

If you are on a public water or sewer system, a municipal authority manages drinking water quality, wastewater treatment, or both. 

Brodhead Creek Regional Authority is an example. 

With a water plant, wells, pumping stations and distribution network, BCRA supplies more than 2.5 million gallons of water a day in Stroudsburg Borough and Stroud, Smithfield, Pocono and Hamilton Townships. 

BCRA also runs the wastewater treatment plant that treats sewage from most of the same area, and discharges to the McMichael creek in Stroudsburg.

With overwhelming public support in the early 2000s, Monroe County Commissioners safeguarded water quality in the Brodhead watershed with grants that local groups used to keep creeklands protected and natural. 

And where development makes sense, Monroe County Conservation District works with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to provide technical expertise, permitting, and oversight of water quality issues. 

While also offering great environmental programs for kids and adults!

The easiest and cheapest way to keep water safe and pure is to keep the land it depends on undeveloped. 

So State Gamelands, with more than 10,000 acres in the County, and Delaware State Forest, with more than 85,000 acres across Pike and Monroe counties, also help keep your water unpolluted. 

“When the well is dry, we know the value of water,” said Ben Franklin. 

Wells don’t often go dry in our watershed. But the point still applies: Clean, fresh-tasting, pure water is in everybody’s interest — and everybody’s responsibility. 

Click Here for more articles in the Water At Risk Series.

The Brodhead Watershed Association protects water quality and quantity throughout our area. Get involved! Become a member!

The Pocono Heritage Land Trust helps landowners preserve their land to meet many goals

Related Articles This Week:

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-- Protecting Clean Water Together: More Than Just Water: Mill Creek Flows With Community, Connection, Conservation In Monroe County - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN] 

-- Water At Risk: Clean Water, Shared Commitment - Behind The Scenes In Monroe County - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts July 16 Webinar On Uses And Benefits Of Rain Barrels  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension July 23 Webinar On Private Water Supply Education And Water Testing  [PaEN] 

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-- Pittsburgh Water Authority Announces $75.4 Million Water Main, Lead Service Line Replacement Projects

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-- KDKA: Shale Gas Driller Rescinds Plans To Remove 1.5 Million Gallons Of Water Daily From Big Sewickley Creek In Beaver County

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-- WHYY: Forecasters Predict Busy Hurricane Season For 2025

[Posted: June 4, 2025]  PA Environment Digest