Red Lion, Pennsylvania

Red Lion Municipal Authority
Source Water Protection Update:
Focus on Cabin Creek Watershed
January 8, 2016

Cabin Creek, located in Windsor Township, is the primary source of the raw water that is purified at the Authority's water treatment plant before being distributed as final drinking water to our customers in Red Lion and surrounding boroughs and townships.  Secondary sources include Beaver Creek and the Susquehanna River.

In 2015, the Authority completed two projects that improved the quality of the final drinking water distributed to its customers.  First, the construction of the new drinking water plant was completed and the plant placed on line in early April.  Second, the Cabin Creek Reservoir was dredged to remove sediment that had accumulated over the 40 or more years since it was last dredged.

In 2016, the Authority's Source Water Protection Program will optimize both of these projects by focusing its efforts on reducing sediment and nutrient pollution from the Cabin Creek Watershed.  Sediments, excess nutrients and high water volumes all result in lower quality raw source water and higher treatment costs.

First, the Authority, in cooperation with Windsor Township, will explore opportunities to reduce sediment, nutrients and the volume of water entering Cabin Creek during storm events by evaluating the storm water detention basins that exist in the residential neighborhoods in the upper sections of the Cabin Creek watershed.  Many of these structures were designed and installed over two decades ago, and there are now new methods to improve old storm water detention basins that reduce sediments, nutrients and the high water flows during storm events.

Second, the Authority, again in cooperation with Windsor Township, will conduct outreach to the residents in these same residential neighborhoods to inform them of things they can do to improve the quality of the source water that eventually becomes their drinking water.  For example, the Authority has purchased storm drain markers, shown below, that help everyone understand the connection between what goes down a storm drain and the water they drink.  The Authority and Windsor Township will also make rain barrels available to all residents in these neighborhoods at a nominal cost.

If you would be interested in assisting with these and other efforts of the Authority's Source Water Protection Plan, please contact Keith Kahwajy at 717-244-3475, Ext. 235, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Skip Missimer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Storm Drain Marker