I write in response to Mr. Richard Ruggieri’s August 13, 2020, Op-Ed titled Connecting the Dots: Marsh Creek… and CWA. I was concerned to see Mr. Ruggieri imply that the customers may be receiving unsafe drinking water due to the incident at Marsh Creek. I want to take the time to assure the community that Aqua Pennsylvania took immediate and proactive steps to ensure the safety of the water supply.
At Aqua Pennsylvania, we have a team of highly qualified water treatment professionals who monitor the water quality entering our treatment plants and distribution systems. Customers can remain confident knowing that continuous monitoring which occurs regardless of any imminent threat to the water supply is capable of detecting the slightest changes in water quality. Such changes allow treatment operators to modify operations and avoid any impact to our drinking water quality.
When we learned of the spill at Marsh Creek, we:
- quickly reviewed chemical constituents in the spilled compound to assess any potential difficulties for our treatment process.
- collected samples from our nearby water sources and, through laboratory analysis, began looking for the presence of those constituents.
- added a notification to our website www.aquaamerica.com so that customers may know we are aware of the situation and where they can refer for additional updates.
- notified the PA Public Utility Commission and local officials.
- contacted the operator of the Marsh Creek Dam to gauge the potential for the spill to reach the East Branch Brandywine Creek downstream of the lake.
The assertions that Aqua took anything less than a serious and immediate approach to this spill only instills fear based on misinformation. Moreover, creating a connection between this spill and any interest by Aqua or the other bidders to acquire the Chester Water Authority is irresponsible and misleading. The pursuit by all bidders to acquire the Chester Water Authority is anything, but a “hostile takeover” as is stated. Aqua responded to a Request for Proposal issued by the City of Chester as did two other bidders, including the Authority itself. The details of Aqua’s bid and our plans for Octoraro Reservoir can be found on our website www.AquaforChester.com.
Finally, I would like to point out that Aqua employees take great pride in providing safe and reliable water service to the communities in which they live and work. I thank them for their work, not just in response to this situation, but for their commitment to providing safe and reliable water service 24/7, 365 days a year.
Marc A. Lucca is the President of Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. Aqua Pennsylvania serves approximately 1.4 million people in 32 counties throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Visit AquaAmerica.com for more information, or follow Aqua on Facebook at facebook.com/MyAquaAmerica and on Twitter at @MyAquaAmerica.
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