Drinking water warning announced for some Susquehanna Valley residents

Hempfield Water Authority customers in Lancaster County are under a drinking water warning due to high nitrate levels affecting the “low pressure system” in East Hempfield Township and parts of West Hempfield Township.The authority warns that infants under six months could become ill if they drink the water, and untreated exposure could be fatal. Pregnant women and individuals with serious health conditions are advised to consult their doctors if they have consumed the water. The authority has stated that boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting the water sit does not reduce nitrate levels.”We’re investigating. You know, we’ll keep testing to see if this persists. I mean, we’re in the spring, and hopefully we’re going to get more rain. We hope that will help. But we’re also looking at what we can do to, mitigate the problem,” said a representative from the water authority.The authority does not believe there is any risk associated with bathing in the water.The following warning is posted on the Hempfield Water Authority website:DRINKING WATER WARNINGMay 1, 2025Nitrate, Nitrite or Total Nitrate & Nitrite Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) ExceedanceDO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD OR USE IT TO MAKE INFANT FORMULAPADRES DE FAMILIA CON BEBES DE SEIS MESES DE EDAD Y MENORES, NO USEN EL AGUA PARA PREPARAR ALIMENTOS PARA BEBES.ESTE INFORME CONTIENE INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE ACERCA DE SU AGUA POTABLE. HAGA QUE ALGUIEN LO TRADUZCA PARA USTED, O HABLE CON ALGUIEN QUE LO ENTIENDA.Hempfield Water Authority has high levels of nitrate. Sample results received 4/30/25 showed nitrate levels of 10.8 . This is above the nitrate standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L. Nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern for infants less than six months old.What should I do?DO NOT GIVE THE WATER TO INFANTS. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome. Blue- baby syndrome is indicated by blueness of the skin. Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly, with health deteriorating over a period of days. If symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled water or other water low in nitrates should be used for infants until further notice.DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the nitrate level. Excessive boiling can make the nitrates more concentrated, because nitrates remain behind when the water evaporates.Adults and children older than six months can drink the tap water. Nitrate is a concern for infants because they can’t process nitrates in the same way adults can. However, if you are pregnant or have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.What happened? What is being done?Nitrate in drinking water can come from natural, industrial, or agricultural sources (including septic systems and runoff). Levels of nitrate in drinking water can vary throughout the year. We’ll let you know when the amount of nitrate is again below the limit.High nitrate levels in well water are typically caused by contamination from various sources, including human and animal waste, fertilizers, and industrial or agricultural runoff. These contaminants can seep into the groundwater and contaminate the well. As plants and animals decompose, they release nitrogen compounds, some of which can be converted into nitrate by bacteria in the soil. With the continuing drought there is not enough ground water to help dilute the nitrates. We are currently working with PA DEP to help resolve this issue.We anticipate resolving the problem by We are currently working on a timeline.For more information, please contact:Hempfield Water Authority920 Church St / PO Box 97Landisville, PA 17538at 717-898-8231Please 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 distributing copies by hand or mail. Download printable PDF of warning here.