Statement From Mercersburg Water Authority
Statement from Mercersburg Water Authority
February 4, 2026
The Mercersburg Water Authority is committed to providing water for both household use and fire protection within the Mercersburg community.
The MMP&W Volunteer Fire Company has a mission of protecting life and property from fire hazards. The Mercersburg Water Authority has a mission of providing an adequate supply of water for drinking and household use as well as fire protection. Both missions are essential for public health and safety. The volunteer members of both organizations care deeply about the community. The current water capacity challenges have made completing those overlapping missions more difficult. The Water Authority fully supports collaborative discussions between both organizations to better address operational challenges and mutual concerns.
The Mercersburg Water Authority learned of the MMP&W concerns via its February 3rd press release. The Authority desires to emphasize a number of items:
- Authority member Ed Twine does not speak for the whole of the Authority.
- Mr. Twine relayed that when he was asked by the Fire Chief what the MMP&W should do if Mr. Twine’s house was on fire, Mr. Twine responded that the fire company should “let it burn” because he is concerned with providing drinking water to 1,000 customers in the Mercersburg community. While Mr. Twine may feel that is the appropriate action for his property, the Authority does not believe that a vast majority of the community shares those feelings.
- The Authority has faced significant challenges with water supply recently with a large leak diminishing storage levels and water supplies struggling to keep up with demand.
- When the new water source on Park Avenue, which is currently under construction, is operational, the Authority’s water supply will increase significantly. The Authority did inform the MMP&W well in advance that the new source construction project would require the removal of the Park Avenue hydrant.
- The Authority has requested the MMP&W to observe the same water conservation measures that the community was asked to implement.
- While the Authority questions some of the characterizations in the MMP&W release, it will address those directly with representatives of the MMP&W.
To be clear, the Mercersburg Water Authority unequivocally supports the use of hydrants to address danger to life or property. The Authority supports collaboration with the MMP&W on how to best accomplish the missions of both organizations that are essential for the community.
The Mercersburg Water Authority
BOIL WATER ADVISORY CONTINUES, Tuesday, January 27, 2026
BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING
System water samples are tested daily. After test results are determined to be acceptable, and with PA DEP approval, the Boil Water Advisory will be lifted. This approval is not expected before the end of this week.
We will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water. For more information, please contact: Mercersburg Water Authority at 717-328-3116.
EL AVISO SOBRE EL AGUA DE COMBUSTIBLE CONTINÚA, MARTES 27 DE ENERO DE 2026
HIERVE EL AGUA ANTES DE USARLA
Las muestras de agua del sistema se analizan diariamente. Una vez que se determine que los resultados de las pruebas son aceptables y con la aprobación del DEP, se levantará el Aviso de Ebullición del Agua. No se espera esta aprobación antes de que termine esta semana.
Te informaremos cuando ya no necesites hervir el agua. Para más información, por favor contacte con: Mercersburg Water Authority en el 717-328-3116.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or by distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you by Mercersburg Water Authority.
What should I do?
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
Inadequately treated or inadequately protected water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, cramps, and associated headaches.
The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. Guardians of infants and young children and people at increased risk, such as pregnant women, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems, should seek advice from their health care advisors about drinking this water.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or by distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you by Mercersburg Water Authority.
SNOW EMERGENCY PLAN IN EFFECT – Saturday, January 24, 2026 beginning at 9:00 PM
The Mayor’s Office has implemented the Borough of Mercersburg's SNOW EMERGENCY PLAN under Ordinance 1-35. The plan will be in effect beginning Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 9:00 PM until the snow has ceased and has been removed from the TRAVEL LANES of the following streets in which parking is restricted:
- No Parking on the East side of Linden Avenue.
- No Parking on the South side of East and West Seminary Streets.
- No Parking on South Fayette Street.
- No Parking on either side of North and South Main Streets.
Crews will frequently clear the Hitching Post parking lot to provide additional parking. Individuals not complying with the restrictions of the Snow Emergency Plan will have their vehicles towed away at the owner’s expense. Please visit the borough website at www.mercersburg.org for any further announcements. Thank you.
Mercersburg Alert – SYSTEM WIDE BOIL WATER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT - January 23, 2026
Mercersburg Alert Update – January 23, 2026
SYSTEM WIDE BOIL WATER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT.
Due to the loss of water levels related to Thursday’s water main breaks the water level in the primary storage tank dropped below required levels.
DRINKING WATER WARNING FAILURE TO MEET DISINFECTION REQUIREMENTS AT THE ENTRY POINT TO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR A SURFACE WATER SYSTEM.
BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING.
Actualización de Alerta de Mercersburg – 23 de enero de 2026
SE ENCUENTRA EN VIGOR UN AVISO DE HERVIR EL AGUA EN TODO EL SISTEMA.
Debido a la pérdida de niveles de agua relacionada con las roturas de la tubería principal ocurridas el jueves, el nivel de agua en el tanque de almacenamiento principal cayó por debajo de los niveles requeridos.
ADVERTENCIA SOBRE EL AGUA POTABLE: NO SE CUMPLEN LOS REQUISITOS DE DESINFECCIÓN EN EL PUNTO DE ENTRADA AL SISTEMA DE DISTRIBUCIÓN DE UN SISTEMA DE AGUA SUPERFICIAL.
HIERVE EL AGUA ANTES DE USARLA.
What should I do?
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
Inadequately treated or inadequately protected water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, cramps, and associated headaches.
The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. Guardians of infants and young children and people at increased risk, such as pregnant women, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems, should seek advice from their health care advisors about drinking this water.
What is being done?
Required testing will take place over the next several days. We will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water. For more information, please contact: Mercersburg Water Authority at 717-326-3116.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or by distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you by Mercersburg Water Authority.