Pennsylvania American Water lifts conservation order for customers in Cumberland, York counties - WGAL Susquehanna Valley Pa.
Pennsylvania American Water lifts conservation order in Cumberland, York counties
Pennsylvania American Water lifts conservation order for customers in Cumberland, York counties
Pennsylvania American Water has lifted a mandatory water conservation order for thousands of customers in Cumberland and York counties.
The water conservation order was initially issued Oct. 17 when the company's Silver Spring water treatment plant – one of the Mechanicsburg water system's two water treatment plants – was taken offline due to upstream contamination of the Conodoguinet Creek. Production at the plant has been restored following acceptable test results and approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Drinking water remains safe. The company said normal water use may now be resumed, though customers are encouraged to use water wisely.
The company thanked customers for their patience, cooperation and water conservation throughout the duration of the order.
The Mechanicsburg water system includes parts of:
- Silver Spring Township
- Hampden Township
- Lower Allen Township
- Lemoyne
- Wormleysburg
- East Pennsboro Township
- New Cumberland
- Fairview Township
- Shiremanstown
- Camp Hill
- Newberry Township
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: hydropower
Hydropower — electricity generated by turbines capturing energy from moving water — was for many years the primary contributor of renewable energy to the U.S. electricity grid. Its growth was rapid into the 1970s, and since then has offered a stable supply of power, while a declining share of all generation. For many years, hydropower was seen as clean energy and an unalloyed good, but a greater understanding of the impact of dams on ecosystems and wildlife has led to the removal of some dams. As of 2019, hydropower trails wind as a renewable source of power generation.