Dec 18, 2013 2 min read

Motorists traveling along Pike Street between Country Club Road and Barnickle Street in Meadow Lands, Chartiers Township, may think they are fording a small stream instead driving on a road.

For the last several weeks, water has once again been ponding on the road. And once again, the source of the water is a mystery.

Two years ago, water was flowed onto the street prompting complaints from property owners.

At that time, Pennsylvania American Water Company, state Department of Environmental Protection and Bureau of Mines investigated but could not determine the source.

“I am concerned there will be a crash,” said township police Chief James Horvath. “That is a big pool of water and the vehicles spread the water up the street. It is going to create black ice.”

Township manager Jodi Noble said the situation is absolutely a concern.

“We know it is not a water main break,” Noble said. “We’ve checked our pipes and they are clear.”

She notified the state Department of Transportation because Pike is maintained by state crews.

PennDOT crews are aware of the water problem and frequently check the area for freezing during the cold weather, putting down salt and anti-skid when necessary, said PennDOT spokeswoman Valerie Petersen.

“We have done some things to try and alleviate the problem, like flushing the pipe under the road to make sure there is no debris,” Petersen said. “But we only own half of that pipe. The portion under the road is ours, the other part is on private property.”

Petersen said PennDOT along with the water company and DEP continue to try and determine the origin of the water.