Aqua Pennsylvania has responded to criticisms leveled against the water company at Monday night’s Shenandoah Borough Council meeting.
Currently, there is no water service in Shenandoah after the water treatment facility was taken offline on Monday night, according to Borough officials.
There are numerous water leaks, including at least one water main break in the borough and Aqua is searching for a source of that break.
During the meeting, Borough officials were very critical of Aqua’s handling of the situation. They also blamed Shenandoah’s aging underground infrastructure for the issues that have resulted in leaks and breaks since the onset of frigid cold temperatures this winter.
In response, Aqua has released a statement to those criticisms to Coal Region Canary. In that statement, the company says:
“The extreme cold this winter has resulted in conditions across the Shenandoah service area that have stressed the existing water system. The stress manifested in numerous main breaks, frozen pipes, and challenges at the water treatment plant.
“Aqua Pennsylvania mobilized crews from Shenandoah and across the state to assist. These men and women are working diligently to resolve the issue in Shenandoah and the broader service territory to return normal water service to our customers as soon as possible.
“Our top priority is always our customers, and we are committed to providing them with regular updates about this situation. Aqua leadership is also in frequent contact with Borough leaders, and we believe it’s important to keep open lines of communication.”
The company says in statement that Shenandoah’s water system is aged and in poor condition. The statement continues:
“Aqua Pennsylvania acquired the Shenandoah water system in July 2023. Since that time, we have invested nearly $8.5 million in infrastructure repairs and upgrades to the aging system. But more needs to be done given the poor condition of the system when purchased. We remain dedicated to making those improvements to the system so that we can provide high quality service to our customers for years to come.
Customers who are having trouble with their service or want to know more can refer to our “Disruption Map” at www.aquawater.com or call 877.987.2782.”
Potable Water Available At Borough Hall
Aqua says it has established a potable water supply for customers in Shenandoah at Borough Hall.
Customers are asked to bring jugs or containers to fill with water while it continues to try and restore service to the area.
RELATED:
BREAKING NEWS: No Water in Shenandoah
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