PA Environment Digest Blog: The Derrick: DEP Issues Order To Petro Erie, Inc. To Restore Village Of Reno Water System, Cleanup Contamination Caused By Its Conventional Well Wastewater Release; 1 Month Without Clean Water

On August 19, The Derrick newspaper reported DEP’s Oil and Gas Program issued an administrative order to Petro Erie, Inc. to provide temporary water and take action to restore or replace the water supply for the Village of Reno contaminated by a release of wastewater from a conventional oil well field the company operates in Venango County.

Click Here for a copy of the order DEP hand-delivered the order to Petro Erie, Inc. on August 16.

The Derrick also reported DEP’s sampling of the water supply found elevated levels of aluminum, barium, magnesium, manganese, chloride, total dissolved solids, sodium and zinc in the water typically found in oil and gas wastewater.

[DEP’s sampling does not routinely include radioactive radium 226 and 228 or PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ which often can be present in oil and gas wastewater.]

Petro Erie, Inc. is also required to reimburse the Venango Water Company, which owns the Reno water system, and Aqua Pennsylvania, which has been providing temporary water and taking steps to restore the system under a Public Utility Commission emergency order, for any temporary and permanent increased operating and maintenance costs resulting from the contamination caused by the spill.

The DEP order also requires Petro Erie, Inc. to submit a plan to DEP for remediation of the area impacted by the release of the wastewater within 30 days.

During DEP’s first inspection of the wastewater tank leak from the conventional oil well field operated by Petro Erie, Inc. on July 21, DEP gave the operator until August 11 to submit a written plan for cleaning up the spill and bringing the wells and tank into compliance.

As of August 19, DEP has not posted any response from Petro Erie, Inc. to that request.

PUC Order

The Derrick reported on August 16 the Public Utility Commission has issued an emergency order to Aqua Pennsylvania to take over the operation of the Venango Water Company Village of Reno water supply contaminated by release of conventional oil well wastewater in Venango County.

It has been nearly a month since the contamination was discovered on July 20 and the Village of Reno has been without regular, clean drinking water from their system.

Aqua Pennsylvania is working to supply additional emergency water supplies to residents and coordinating efforts to decontaminate the water system.

Aqua PA has set up a dedicated Venango webpage to provide updates to residents.

NewsClips - Village Of Reno:

-- The Derrick - Luka Krneta: Petro Erie Ordered To Rectify Issues Related To Village Of Reno Water Supply Contamination By DEP In Venango County [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: PUC Issues Emergency Order To Aqua Pennsylvania To Operate The Village Of Reno Water System In Venango County Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater [PDF of article ]

-- WTAE: To The Frustration Of The Village Of Reno Residents, ‘Do Not Consume’ Water Advisory Approaches One Month Mark In Venango County, After Contamination By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill

-- The Derrick - Luka Krneta: Consumable Water For Village Of Reno, Venango County, Might Not Be Far Off, After Contamination By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: Fundraising Event Brings In $1,000 For Village Of Reno Water Emergency Fund In Venango County [PDF of article]