Mercersburg Alert update: As of 6/13/2025 –The Boil Water Advisory and Mandatory Water Conservation is still in effect for Mercersburg Water Authority Customers.
Mercersburg Alert Update: As of 6/13/2025 –The Boil Water Advisory and Mandatory Water Conservation is still in effect for Mercersburg Water Authority Customers until further notice. Water samples from the Mercersburg Water Authority System was taken today and will be taken again tomorrow in accordance with DEP guidelines. The Borough Office will send out additional communication after sample results are determined to be acceptable, and with PADEP approval. Please continue to check the Borough website for additional information and updates.
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 less-than 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 two large water leaks, which both drained the water storage tank on 6/9/25 and 6/11/25. The reduced storage tank levels caused the log-inactivation to drop below 1, requiring the issuance of a boil water advisory. The leaks have been repaired.
We will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water. For more information, please visit the Mercersburg Borough website at www.mercersburg.org or 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