MARS — Borough officials are in talks with Chatham University and Mars Area School District to potentially work together on municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) reports, collaborating with students at Mars Area Centennial School and with Chatham graduate students.

Mars Borough Mayor Gregg Hartung said at a borough council meeting Monday night that he is discussing possible options with Mars Area High School biology teacher Bill Wesley, who runs the Mars Area Water Protection Program, a program through which Mars students test and study water in Breakneck Creek to learn about the physical, chemical and biological properties of the watershed.

Fifth-graders from Mars Area Centennial School are currently studying water resources and conservation as part of the Mars Area Water Protection Program on Fridays, Sept. 17 through Oct. 22. The students test the temperature, depth and speed of the stream as well as pH levels, and participate in collecting biological samples such as crayfish and mayflies.

Hartung says that the discussions are still in early stages, but that they “would add to us being able to use local participation” in the MS4 process.

“We're going to have conversations about how we can share information,” he said. 'We may even be able to get input from the kids from what their experience was, and add that into our DEP (report).”

Hartung also said that the borough is talking with Glade Run Lake Conservancy about their watershed work.

“We've started a conversation on Saturday with Glade Run Lake about what they are doing, what we can learn from them and what they can learn from us,” he said.