Raw water intakes have been re-opened

Staff report

SHARON, PA.

Aqua Pennsylvania is asking its customers in the Shenango Valley, Pa., area and a small portion of Trumbull County to continue to conserve water after a crude- oil spill Friday.

The spill caused Aqua to shut down the raw-water intake at its water-treatment plant as a precaution to protect its drinking water supply.

Although the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. EPA have allowed Aqua to reopen the intake, the plant is operating at a reduced level while it fills its tanks with enough water to meet daily demand.

Until tank capacity is reached, customers in the Shenango Valley area are asked to continue to conserve water until further notice.

“We know it’s an inconvenience, but the more people who cooperate in using water for essential purposes only, the sooner the plant will be back to normal,” an Aqua spokeswoman said.

Aqua defines essential uses as water needed for eating and drinking. Non-essential uses include watering lawns, excessive showering, laundering and washing cars.

The Aqua plant shutdown began about 8:10 a.m. Friday when Aqua was notified by the Mercer County Emergency Management Agency of a crude-oil spill on a tributary that feeds the Shenango River – the water source for Aqua’s Shenango water treatment plant.

A fisherman discovered the oil in Big Run Creek and called 911. First responders reported the oil was leaking from a rusted storage container that holds crude oil separated from a gas well near 2601 Orangeville Road NE in Brookfield Township. The Ohio EPA assisted with containment of the leak.

Upon notification, Aqua implemented its standard operating procedures by shutting down the Shenango plant to assess the situation. Aqua increased monitoring of the raw water at the plant intake and upstream of the plant. Booms have been placed around the raw water intake to protect it from the spill.

It is anticipated that the conservation request will continue through the weekend and possibly into next week, officials said.