17607_PMAA_Authority_June_2024

16 The Authority | June 2024 H eritage to H eadwaters : E xploring O ur L egacy Blue hole abandoned mine site to be reclaimed Vista MTB destination Passive system flush spaghetti hole By Katie Semelsberger, Land Manager, Altoona Water Authority When you think of the term “Municipal Authority”, the Altoona Water Authority (AWA) does not quite fit the typical definition. The AWA supplies public water to 65% of Blair County. They pride themselves in serving their customers in the most cost effective and safest way that they can, but their mission runs deeper than that. Altoona Water Authority’s Mission The Altoona Water Authority’s Mission Statement: “As stewards of the community’s water system, our mission is to provide a clean, safe, reliable water supply and to collect and treat wastewater in a manner that protects public health and the environment. Our commitment is to ensure a cost-efficient operation, render the highest standard of customer service and maintain an active role within the community.” AWA owns approximately 15,000 acres of property. Of that 15,000 acres, 12,500 acres are enrolled in the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) Cooperative Public Access Program. The Cooperation program creates a partnership between the Game Commission and landowner whereby they work concurrently to improve public recreational activities including hiking, mountain biking, hunting, trapping, reasonable land access, and wildlife habitat. The Game Commission provides signage and patrolling to the cooperating landowner which helps to secure the properties from any negligent activities. Above all, this assists the AWA in keeping their watersheds clean and secure with the help of the PGC. Watershed Protection It is important for the authority to have ownership of the watershed properties to ensure that they can control what goes on in them. Watershed protection and source water protection is a crucial part of the AWA’s mission. Before AWA purchased the watershed properties that fed the drinking water reservoirs, much of the properties were strip mined, deep mined, and heavily timbered. These operations happened in the late 1800s into the 1900s and completely denuded the watershed. To avoid any more calamitous activities occurring around the source water, the authority’s solution was to purchase as many acres as reasonably possible. The AWA owns and operates eight abandoned mine drainage passive treatment systems. These systems treat the source water before it reaches the drinking water reservoirs. These passive systems are comprised of a series of ponds and wetlands, each designed with a specific component to treat the impaired water. Six of these systems are located above the Horseshoe Curve water treatment facility and the other two are located above the Bellwood water treatment facility. These It is important for the authority to have ownership of the watershed properties to ensure that they can control what goes on in them. Continued on page 42.