Students Donate Water to Families in Dimock Township
By: Eric Deabill, PA Homepage
Updated: February 6, 2012
Shohola Township, Pike County - People from Susquehanna County who say their water has been contaminated by natural gas drilling got some help Monday from an unusual source.
Students from a school in PIke County, which is more than an hour away, donated hundreds of gallons of water to help them.
As part of a community service project, students from Shohola Elementary School donated all the water. It took dozens of students to load car after car Monday afternoon.
"I did it to save the people so they don't drink dirty water," fourth grader Nicole Traxler said.
After Eyewitness News first broadcast word of the water collection last week, organizers say the donations started pouring in.
"It's really important because a lot of people can't even take showers," fourth grader Jimmy Vanorskie said.
Dimock Township has become a focal point in the debate over natural gas drilling.
Eleven families say Cabot Oil & Gas has contaminated their well water. Cabot says that isn't the case and water at all of the homes is safe and usable.
"It's a pretty basic principal, just needing water and everybody deserves that. We're in America," advocate Calin Riffle said.
A parent came up with the idea for the water collection to celebrate the 100th day of school. The students quickly embraced it.
"You mention something about doing something good for your neighbors and they all want to pitch in, so it was really a good effort as you see," principal Dr. Peg Schaffer said.
Besides donating all the water Monday, students also learned more about the natural gas extraction process.
While it may be complex and controversial, the students say it was important for them to help anyone who says they can't drink their water.
