DRINKING WATER WARNING FAILURE TO MEET DISINFECTION REQUIREMENTS AT THE ENTRY POINT TO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR A SURFACE WATER SYSTEM

DRINKING WATER WARNING FAILURE TO MEET DISINFECTION REQUIREMENTS AT THE ENTRY POINT TO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR A SURFACE WATER SYSTEM

ESTE INFORME CONTIENE INFORMACION IMPORTANTE ACERCA DE SU AGUA POTABLE. HAGA QUE ALGUIEN LO TRADUZCA PARA USTED, O HABLE CON ALGUIEN QUE LO ENTIENDA.

BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING

Mercersburg Water Authority did not meet treatment technique requirements. Through the disinfection process, we are required to provide at least 1.0-log (i.e. 90.0%) inactivation of Giardia cysts that could be in the water supplied to consumers. Water samples taken on 6/9/2025 showed a log inactivation level of <1, which constituted a breakdown in treatment. As a result of this breakdown in treatment, there was a risk that the water may have contained disease-causing organisms.

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?

This situation was caused by a large water leak, which drained the water storage tank. The reduced storage tank level caused the log-inactivation to drop below 1, requiring the issuance of a boil water advisory. The leak has been located and is being repaired. Once the repair is complete, and the storage tank level is greater than 9', distribution system sampling will be completed to ensure water quality. After sample results are determined to be acceptable, and with PADEP approval, the boil water advisory will be lifted.

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.

PWS ID#: 7280021

Date distributed: 06/09/25

MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION NOTICE

The Mercersburg Water Authority routinely monitors the conditions at the treatment facility and distribution system. On June 9, 2025, a large leak was discovered and as a result, the level within the water storage tank has been reduced and the Mercersburg Water Authority is issuing a MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION NOTICE for all Mercersburg Water customers which requires you as a consumer to take the following actions.

Who is affected?

All customers and users are served by the Mercersburg Water System.

What should I do?

Effective immediately the Mercersburg Water Authority is implementing mandatory water conservation measures for all customers served by the Mercersburg water system. Mercersburg Water Authority is permitted to impose water use restrictions on its customers under the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s Regulation at 52 Pa. Code § 65.11(a). These use restrictions will continue until the Mercersburg Water Authority provides notice that the mandatory water conservation has been lifted. Mercersburg Water Authority has determined that mandatory water conservation is needed currently to protect the integrity of the Mercersburg Water Authority supply and distribution system because the Authority is experiencing a short-term supply shortage (total available water supply is not enough to meet maximum system demand) due to the recent drought conditions. If use restrictions are not put in place immediately, the result could be a lowering of pressure or a loss of water to customers.

While mandatory water conservation is in place, all Mercersburg Water customers are required to eliminate nonessential uses of water, which include the following:

► The use of hoses, sprinklers or other means for sprinkling or watering of shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, plants, vines, gardens, vegetables, flowers, or other vegetation.

► The use of water for washing automobiles, trucks, trailers, trailer houses or other type of mobile equipment.

► The washing of streets, driveways, parking lots, service station aprons, office buildings, exterior of homes, sidewalks, apartments, or other outdoor surfaces.

► The operation of an ornamental fountain or other structures making a similar use of water.

► The use of water for filling swimming or wading pools.

► The operation of water-cooled comfort air conditioning which does not have water-conserving equipment.

► The use of water from fire hydrants for construction purposes or fire drills.

► The use of water to flush a wastewater line or wastewater manhole.

► The use of water for commercial farms and nurseries other than a bare minimum to preserve plants, crops, and livestock.

What happened?

This situation was caused by a large water leak, which drained the water storage tank. The reduced storage tank level caused the log-inactivation to drop below 1, requiring the issuance of a boil water advisory. The leak has been located and is being repaired. Once the repair is complete, and the storage tank level is greater than 9', distribution system sampling will be completed to ensure water quality. After sample results are determined to be acceptable, and with PADEP approval, the boil water advisory will be lifted.

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.

What is being done?

The Mercersburg Water Authority is monitoring the water table levels closely and adjusting plant operations accordingly. The Mercersburg Water Authority has issued a Mandatory Water Conservation Notice to its customers.

The Mercersburg Water Authority will inform you when we are no longer affected and the Mandatory Water Conservation Notice can been lifted. For more information, please contact the Borough Office, by email: boroughoffice@mercerburg.org or by phone at (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, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. In sharing or posting of this Notice with others, please ensure that other parties are affected by the issue – the Mercersburg Water Authority can limit the affected service population by isolating portions of its main – as listed in the “Who is affected?” portion of this advisory.

This notice is being sent to you by the Mercersburg Water Authority.

PWS ID#: _7280021_ Date distributed: Monday, June 9, 2025