Posted on: February 17, 2023
We at Ambridge Water Authority understand the concerns over the recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The derailment was approximately 20 linear miles away from Ambridge Water Authority’s water source at the Service Creek Reservoir in Independence and Raccoon Townships. The drainageway and aquifers feeding Service Creek and the Reservoir are in no way connected to or impacted by the train derailment.
The DEP and EPA are monitoring the water moving forward and they will provide information from their results. That said the Ambridge Water Authority has proactively elected to perform supplemental testing of its source water at the Service Creek Reservoir to determine if any elevated levels of VOCs have occurred due to any airborne contaminants resulting from the recent train derailment incident. Sample results were received from our source water and showed no trace of VOCs present including Vinyl chloride.
Our water treatment plant is very effective at removal of contaminants, including Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from source water for distribution to the public, and routinely monitors and tests the finished water for these and other contaminants to ensure a safe water supply to its customers.