Metering Private Wells to Control Drought ???

WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO TO KNOW HOW MUCH WATER IS USED WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WATER YOU HAVE?

http://www.tnonline.com/node/115528
Nesquehoning needs to meter all wells

Reported on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

By CAROL ZICKLER TN Correspondent tneditor@tnonline.com

Nesquehoning resident Tom Merman has not given up on his quest to find out about metering the wells in the community.

At Monday night's meeting of the Nesquehoning Borough Water Authority, Merman did not get a chance to ask the big question once again. The authority's solicitor Robert Yurchak spoke up first notifying Merman and the board that there is an ordinance requiring metering of all water wells in the borough. "But it's up to the borough council to enforce the law," said Atty. Yurchak.

Merman replied, "They should not be controlling the water authority, you should be controlling them." He wants "all" the wells metered so that the water authority will then know how much water is being used. He said especially during the drought season when others are restricted on water usage.
Frank Parano said there is a meeting of the Carbon County Drought Task Force this Wednesday. Parano serves on the board. He asked Merman if he wants the water authority to be the watch dogs.
Board president David Hawk reminded Merman that Nesquehoning does have ordinances in town. Merman said he is looking for protection for everyone.
****
1. Comments

a. Private wells should not be metered in this fashion.

b. The local agency does not have the authority to allocate or control private water use - only the river basin commission can allocate water and they do not allocate private water use.

c. This metering concern was the reason the PA State Law related to private well construction standards failed.

d. I do not believe the authority has the right to enforce this type of use.

e. The Authority indirectly controls private water usage through other ordiances, i.e. subdivision and land development.

f. The answer is not meters - but education and awareness, water conservation etc.