McKeesport: Water advisory remains in place

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

A “do not use” advisory remains in effect for the Lower 10th Ward in McKeesport, Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County announced Thursday afternoon.

“Do Not Use the tap water for any purpose other than flushing toilets,” a notice from MAWC reads.

The advisory has been in place since early Saturday, following a devastating fire Friday night at McKeesport Auto Body on Rebecca Street in the 10th Ward.

MAWC said firefighting foam contains Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are synthetic chemicals, and glycol, and that those items in drinking water may be a serious health concern. There are concerns that these chemicals were sucked into a hydrant during the fire.

The authority has been consulting with state agencies including the Department of Environmental Protection.

MAWC said it isolated the area to the Lower 10th Ward and has been flushing the system and doing testing since early Saturday. In the meantime, residents have been under the advisory.

That means they must use bottled water or alternative sources for drinking, bathing, hand washing, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, cooking or food preparation.

Boiling, freezing, filtering or letting water stand does not reduce the level of chemicals that may be present.

Residents of the neighborhood told the Mon Valley Independent this week that they’re trying to be understanding, but that morale was getting low and life is hard when they can’t turn on the tap.

“We would like to thank residents for their patience as we work to resolve this situation as quickly as possible,” MAWC spokesman Matt Junker said. “Our number one focus is getting people back in water safely, but as fast as possible.”

Tuesday night, Junker said preliminary test results “indicate a lack of contamination in the water,” and results would continue to come in overnight.

On Wednesday, an additional round of system flushing and testing took place.

“We have been driving samples to an accredited lab in Lancaster to speed testing and receipt of results, but these tests can take days,” Junker said.

He said that while MAWC and Lower 10th Ward residents wait, the authority “is working with state regulators to determine next steps.”

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