Mar 16, 2024 By Mike Jones 4 min read

Water problems have returned for East Dunkard’s customers a little more than a month after Pennsylvania American Water Co. took receivership of the troubled authority in southeastern Greene County.

Residents began noticing discolored water coming from their taps Wednesday that turned dark brown in some homes, prompting water buffaloes to be set up at two locations in Dunkard Township.

PAWC alerted customers and the state Department of Environmental Protection of the issue later that night and began flushing the lines, which officials said will continue into next week.

“PAWC is continuing to investigate the cause of the discolored water that impacted certain portions of the EDWA system,” PAWC spokesman Tom Meinert said. “Our initial information suggests that a change in flows within the system stirred up sediment that had been deposited within the water mains. PAWC has been aggressively flushing portions of the system to eliminate the discolored water.”

It’s not known whether the use of hydrants to battle a house fire last weekend near Dilliner may have been what stirred up old sediment in the lines.

While what caused the water issue still has not been confirmed, an alert sent to customers Thursday said the treatment plant near Dilliner has been functioning without interruption. The water company indicated that issues like this most recent one could be an ongoing process as it works to upgrade the system after taking over for EDWA last month.

“The EDWA system has been experiencing issues for some time now; these problems are not new. Pennsylvania American Water is developing a more comprehensive system flushing plan to help remove the legacy issue of years of sediment accumulated in the system’s water mains, contributing to water discoloration,” PAWC said in a statement to customers. “Overcoming challenges like this recent discoloration event will require intensive maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to the EDWA water system by Pennsylvania American Water.”

PAWC took control of East Dunkard’s treatment plant and system on Feb. 8 after a state Commonwealth Court judge approved the receivership. The DEP sought the transfer in early November after more than 4,200 people in the authority’s network were left without water for several days following a malfunction at the treatment plant. PAWC also agreed to eventually purchase EDWA’s assets for $5 million in a deal that both parties approved last summer.

Dunkard Township resident Clarissa Eggers said she began noticing that her water was discolored Wednesday night after other customers posted photos of their water on various social media sites.

“I expect setbacks and stuff. I think my biggest concern is I’m worried something big is going to happen, like October all over again,” Eggers said. “That’s immediately what I thought of when people started getting brown water.”

Eggers, who has been critical of East Dunkard’s management of the water system in recent years and was one of more than a dozen residents who filed a lawsuit against the authority last year, is hopeful that PAWC will be able to figure out the issue quickly and improve the water quality. But she’s worried that issues remain at the water authority despite PAWC’s efforts to overhaul the system over the past month.

“I think PA American … has made good progress,” she said. “My concern is that they’re not always in (the treatment facility). It’s the same employees and the same board.”

Eggers, who has only drank bottled water the past few years due to concerns about EDWA’s system, added she’s pleased that PAWC has moved swiftly and has a plan to make long-term infrastructure repairs. But the episode in October that left most customers without water for several days remains in the back of their minds.

“I think we’re all just leery and tired. It’s a status quo kind of thing,” Eggers said. “I’m hopeful for the future once they get everything up to par. But that could take years, God only knows. We’ll see, I guess.”

DEP spokeswoman Lauren Camarda said PAWC reported to the agency that it has seen improvements with water clarity since the company began flushing the lines Wednesday. As of Friday afternoon, no boil advisory was in effect.

“DEP will continue to be in regular contact with PAWC until this incident is resolved,” Camarda said.

There are about 1,800 homes and businesses in Dunkard and Greene townships, and portions of Cumberland, Monongahela, Perry and Whiteley townships that rely on water from EDWA.