COLUMBIA, PA − November 14, 2025 − Today, Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller held a hearing to examine the Commonwealth’s actions, plans, and progress in safeguarding water systems and residential wells.
“Today’s hearing aimed to assess the existing practices and plans concerning the commonwealth’s water system and residential wells,” said Senator Miller. “We must take proactive measures with this vital resource and ensure that we are diligently working towards providing safe drinking water for all Pennsylvanians.”
“Clean water is one of the most basic and essential building blocks for a healthy life,” said Senator Malone. “Many people in my district rely on residential wells, and I’m eager to discuss how we can safeguard their water and provide knowledge to support healthier residential wells and water across the commonwealth.”
“Narrowing in the focus for today’s session on protection and safeguarding of residential wells, the laws administered by DEP that most directly impact residential wells and groundwater are: the Clean Streams Law, the Sewage Facilities Act, the Nutrient Management Act, the Solid Waste Management Act, the Water Resources Planning Act, and the regulations authorized by these statutes,” said Jill Whitcomb, Deputy Secretary for Water Programs at DEP. “Before discussing the programs administered by DEP under these laws, we should consider the pollutants that commonly impact private drinking water wells.”
“Water wells are the primary source of drinking water for millions of Pennsylvanians. Yet, the Commonwealth is one of only two states to not have established industry standards for well siting and construction and one of only three states that do not have statewide industry licensing requirements,” said Gale Blackmer, State Geologist of Bureau of Geological Survey at DCNR. “In Pennsylvania, there are no standards required for well drillers and no protections in place for homeowners. This leaves many Pennsylvanians vulnerable to improperly sited and/or constructed wells that can result in water contamination, health issues, and costly repair bills.”
“The state of Pennsylvania has important responsibilities with regard to public health,” Laura Dimino, Assistant Director at Center for Rural Pennsylvania. “The research we have released, and are about to release, supports the value of increased attention to how state and local government can promote the safety of the private water supply for millions of residents, as well as improve maintenance of private septic systems. At the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, we support data-informed policymaking.”
“Because there are no well construction standards in Pennsylvania, some important components of a properly constructed drinking water well are often not installed, likely in an effort to reduce the cost of the well to the well driller and the homeowner,” said Jodi Sulpizio, Educator and Coordinator at Penn State Extension. “Proper construction features and wellhead area management can protect private water wells from surface water contamination. Anything that ends up on the ground’s surface, such as animal waste, sediment, fertilizer, chemicals, has the potential to seep into wells with surface runoff after rain events.”
“Pennsylvania has a moral obligation to protect its citizens from preventable health and financial risks,” Ollie Cugini, Clean Water Campaign Manager at PennFuture. “Instituting and enforcing standards are the mechanisms needed to finally address this silent crisis of environmental and economic injustice.”
“We have manufacturers, we have suppliers, who also constitute our membership which brings us in annually 160 firms within the Commonwealth,” said Bill Reichart, PA Ground Water Association President. “I hope to be a resource for the committee.”
Testifiers for today’s hearing included:
- Jill Whitcomb, Deputy Secretary for Water Programs, DEP
- Gale Blackmer, State Geologist, Bureau of Geological Survey, DCNR
- Laura Dimino, Interim Executive Director, Center for Rural Pennsylvania
- Kaitlyn Goode, Specialist, Center for Rural Pennsylvania
- Jodi Sulpizio, Educator and Coordinator, Penn State Extension, York County
- Ollie Cugini, Clean Water Campaign Manager, PennFuture
- Bill Reichart, President, PA Ground Water Association
Senator Nick Miller was elected Policy Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus in December 2024. Today’s hearing was his twelfth as Chair.
Footage of the hearing, as well as the written testimony of the panel, is available at PASenatorMiller.com/Policy. Photographs and downloadable video are available upon request.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats’ priorities visit www.pasenate.com.
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