Lake Wallenpaupack, Wayne and Pike County, Pennsylvania | Drinking Water Sampling and Testing Outreach Program

Lake Wallenpaupack is a man-made lake that was constructed on the late 1920s to support a hydroelectric power generation. The hydroelectric plant as the capability of generating over 44 megawatts of renewable electric capacity. Lake Wallenpaupack is located in both Pike and Wayne County, Pennsylvania and part of the Delaware River Basin. The lake has over 52 miles of shoreline and the lake has a surface area of over 5,700 acres and the third largest lake in Pennsylvania. At the deepest point, Lake Wallenpaupack is about 60 feet deep. The Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed has a watershed area of over 219 square miles or 140,160 acres with an average daily discharge of 387 ft³/second or 250 million gallons per day. During the period from 2017 to 2018, the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed had a mean annual withdrawal of groundwater of 1.204 million gallons per day. Most of the water was used for public water supply systems, but also mining and other commercial uses.

“Prior to the 1920’s, Wallenpaupack was only a creek, winding its way through the bowl-like, wooded terrain of what is now Lake Wallenpaupack. The creek was known to the Leni-Lenape Indians as “Wallenpaupack” which has been cited as meaning “deep and dark.” The Anglicized version of the word became “Wallenpaupack,” which was translated by early European settlers as “the stream of swift and slow water.” Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. dammed the creek and built the lake in 1926 to supply water for a hydroelectric power plant.” (Source)

“The recreational value of Lake Wallenpaupack, along with its proximity to the New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas, has resulted in residential development in parts of the watershed. Some of these developments encroach on existing ponds, lakes, and wetlands and result in the conversion of forest land to residential areas. Sediment and nutrients in runoff from these residential areas, and inputs from agricultural areas, sewage treatment plants, and atmospheric deposition, have had a significant effect on water quality in Lake Wallenpaupack.” (Source: Pocono Lake Ecological Observatory Network)

The rumors are true there is a town that was flooded to create the lake and many of the building foundations remain.  The former town known as Wilsonville was located near the current dam. The town was named after Mr. James Wilson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

Video History of the Town of Wilsonville

Get Informed

The following are links to some of the past presentations our Team has conducted for watershed groups, homeowner associations, citizen scientists and other community and environmentally minded groups on groundwater, watershed management, septic system management, land development, and water well testing and a podcast on septic systems in the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Area.

Presentations by KnowYourH20 Team and Mr. Brian Oram

Planning for Our Future Groundwater Availability of Groundwater of Wayne County, Pennsylvania –

Getting the Waters Tested- The Marcellus Shale Factor

Poconos Groundwater Recharge Management 2010

Private Well Owner Drinking Water Issues – Part I – 2009

Private Well Owner Drinking Water Issues – Part II - 2009

Wellhead Protection Pennsylvania Perspective

Using a Sand Box Model to Educate Community on Groundwater and Surface Water Interactions

Water Cycle and Groundwater Surface Water Pennsylvania

Oram Podcast on SepticSystems – Titled “Properly Maintaining Your On-Lot Septic System" (Apple Podcast)

Homeowners Guide to Maintaining Well and Septic System

Energy Options and Sources andCareers in Energy – Big Problem – Energy Waste

Roamingwood Water and Sewer – STOP Program – Stop Throwing Away Hazards

Studies

Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management Plan (2006)

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Influence of Land Usea nd Open-Water Wetlands on Water Quality in the Lake Wallenpaupack Basin, Northeastern Pennsylvania (1998)

2018 Lake Wallenpaupack WaterQuality Report

Lake Wallenpaupack Map and Landmarks

Baseline Assessment of 34 Wells in Wayne County, PA (2014)

Baseline assessment of groundwater quality in Pike County, Pennsylvania 2015

Groundwater-Quality Assessment, Pike County, Pennsylvania 2007

Roamingwood Wellhead Protection Program (Capture Zone Analysis) Web Page

Roamingwood WellHead Protection

Pocono Lake Ecological Observatory Network, or PLEON is a lake monitoring program focused on educating the public on water quality and lake management. PLEON is based at Lacawac Sanctuary & Biological Field Station (2019)

Contaminants and Conditions

Based on past water testing in the region and within the community, the following are the main contaminant or conditions of concern. One interesting problem is that the groundwater for the area is inherently pure. It can be corrosive to metal piping and fixtures, leach metals out of the local bedrock, and create a nuisance and naturally occurring saline water, methane, and radon.

Learn about each of the following contaminants or conditions in our Get Informed Contaminants Section.

How to Shock Disinfect a Well and the Chemical We Recommend

Bacteria in Drinking Water

Lead in Drinking Water and Potentially Corrosive Water

Corrosion / Corrosivity (Copper, Zinc, low pH, low Alkalinity, low Hardness, and other metals)

Iron and Manganese Issues with Drinking Water

Arsenic in Drinking Water (Based on findings by the USGS and the Know Your H20 Team)

PFOS and Forever Chemicals -This grouping of chemicals can not only bioaccumulate in the food chain, but bioaccumulate in individual humans too. Because these compounds do not readily breakdown, they are persistent in the environment and, until recently, were common in many consumer products.

Waterborne Pathogens Screening Testing (Pathogen Screening Test (Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella, E. Coli 0157:H7, Legionella, and Campylobacter) )- There are a number of organisms that can be a waterborne pathogen in drinking water. Our work in Pennsylvania suggests that 40 to 50 % of private wells may have a water quality problem with their water that could make them sick.

Saline Water (Naturally Occurring) – some areas may have groundwater with slightly higher levels of Sodium, Barium, and other related compounds. (High Total Dissolved Solids content and related contaminants and High pH (> 8.0).

‍Methane, Dissolved Gas (Naturally Occurring – relatively low levels), and Radon ( Radon in air / Radon in water).

Check out our Drinking Water Self-Diagnostic Tool as the first step in your path to remediating your water issues. If you are new to the area, we recommend obtaining a copy of the Neighborhood Environmental Hazards Report for your address. If you need help evaluating the well and drilling water quality, we are happy to offer assistance.

‍Harmful Algal Blooms May Impact You, Your Pond or Lake, Your Well, and Your Pet - Learn and Test‍

If your group or organization would like to schedule a water testing or assessment program, education workshop, or need assistance Contact Us.

GetTested

We offer or facilitate a series of options when it comes to water testing. In addition, we offer Community-based or Event-based Outreach Programs.

Level 1 – Observational Self Testing

Self-Diagnostic Tool Our online questionnaire is a quick and easy way to self-diagnose your water quality issues by simply answering a series of questions. All that is required is observations you can see, smell, taste, or cause a nuisance.

Level2 – In-Home Self Screening Tests

Safe Home WELL WATER DIY In-home Screening Test Kit (Well Water Test for Private Wells)

Level3 – Mail Order Screening Lab Test Kits

Common tests kits recommended for private well owners:

WaterCheck Deluxe - Private Well Water Screening Test with Bacteria (Comprehensive Test – Done Initially)

WaterCheck Basic - Screening test done annually

Common test kits recommended for individuals on Central or “Public” WaterSystems

City Water Check Deluxe

City Water Check Basic

The Surface WaterQuality Index Calculator - Surface Water Monitoring Citizen Scientist Tool

But in few cases additional testing may be needed for nuisance bacteria or compounds, so if this is the case you may want to Contact Mr.Brian Oram.

Get Treatment

The products listed below may be a solution to your situation. If you would like to get any information about these products or make a purchase, click the links below to view the CrystalQuest website in a new tab or window. If you would like to get an anonymous review of your results by CrystalQuest, we can send them a copy of your testing results without your contact information.

Point-of-UseProducts

Point-of-Use Filters to Remove Trace Metals

Point-of-Use Filters to Remove Lead

Point-of-Use Filters to Remove Arsenic

WholeHouse Applications

Greensand Filter (Iron and Manganese)

Standard Water Softener

Salt-Free Water Conditioner (Slight Hardness Reductions)

Neutralizing Filters (low pH or acidic water)

Arsenic Removal System

UV Disinfection System (We do not recommend a DIY (Do-It-Yourself))

Local Professional Water Specialist

Cresswell Drilling
(Shock Disinfection, Water Treatment, and Pump Issues)
211 N Lackawanna Trail,
Dalton, PA 18414
Phone: 570-563-1123
CressWellDrilling.com
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Duane Moyer Well Drilling
(Shock Disinfection, Well Drilling, Pump Service, and Water Treatment)
336 Gilberts Hill Rd
Lehighton, PA 18235
Phone: 570-386-5508
MoyerWellDrilling.com
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Pocono Well and Pump Service
(Shock Disinfection, WaterTreatment, Pump Service, and Grinder Pump Repair)
21 Walbert Drive
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Phone: 570-243-1679
PoconoWellandPump.com
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