PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP - Day 15: Contaminated Water Continues To Leak From Pipes Cut During Restoration At Equitrans Water SVC Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment In Greene County

A July 2, 2026 follow-up inspection of the Equitrans Water SVC (PA) C [EQT] Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment spill site found contaminated water continues to leak from pipes cut during restoration at the site in Aleppo Township, Greene County.

Remediation was ongoing at the former pipeline vault location where contaminated fluid was still accumulating from the pipes cut during the original incident.

Elevated conductivity readings were also observed on the excavated benches and in test pits downslope of the vault.

“Spill cessation and remediation efforts are ongoing downslope of the release” and distressed vegetation and algae was seen near and in a sediment pond.

The cleanup consultant said soil removal at the impoundment is on hold until a geotechnical study can be conducted to better document the extent of the spill.

Elevated conductivity was also found further downslope adjacent to dewatering filter bags used during dewatering operations at the impoundment.

DEP noted 18 roll off dumpsters holding contaminated material were located on the site as well as one storage tank to hold contaminated water. Nine more dumpsters were staged at the contaminated soil stockpile.

“Outstanding violations are being issued due to observing continuous [contaminated water] discharge to waters of the Commonwealth.”

A written response to the violations was requested by July 20 (original date July 18).

Click Here for the DEP inspection report + photos.

Original Incident

Equitrans reported the spill incident to DEP on June 17 and DEP first inspected the site on June 25 and 29. Read more here.

Equitrans said an unknown amount of contaminated water was released from pipes connected to the Richter Water Impoundment during reclamation of the site.

“The fluid originated from the pipeline previously connected to the decommissioned waterline vault. The impaired fluid proceeded to enter the impoundment and southern slope below the impoundment.”

Equitrans "indicated that a toe key drain was located and elevated fluid was detected emanating from that location and was reported to exhibit elevated conductivity readings."

Report Violations

To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

Text photos and the location of abandoned wells to 717-788-8990.

Check These Resources

Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database and Inspection Reports Viewer webpages to search their compliance records by date and owner.

Sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE service which sends you information on oil and gas and other permits submitted to DEP for review in your community.

Use DEP’s Oil and Gas Mapping Tool to find if there are oil and gas wells near or on your property and to find wells using latitude and longitude on well inspection reports.

(Photos: Original spill site vault areas and cut pipes; Field testing bench areas; Roll offs and contaminated water storage tank; Overview of excavation area; Field testing further into impoundment; Contaminated dewatering area.)

[Note: If you believe your company was listed in error, contact DEP’s Oil and Gas Program.]

[Note: These may not be all the NOVs issued to oil and gas companies during this time period. Additional inspection reports may be added to DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database.]

PA Oil & Gas Industry, Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 4 to 10: 4,200 Gallon Contaminated Water Spill; Cleaning Up Spills For 15 Days, 270 Days, 484 Days And Counting [PaEN]

-- DEP: Lola Energy Petroco Reported 4,200 Gallon Spill Caused By Contaminated Water Eating Thru A Pipe Fitting At Shale Gas Well Pad In Allegheny Twp., Butler County [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 15: Contaminated Water Continues To Leak From Pipes Cut During Restoration At Equitrans Water SVC Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment In Greene County [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 270: Petro Erie Inc. Experiences Leaks From Refurbished Contaminated Water Storage Tanks At Conventional Well Site In Venango County After October 2025 Spill [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 484: Oil & Gas MGMT Inc. Took No Actions To Finish The Cleanup Of Conventional Well Spills Or Respond To DEP Violations In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - July 11 [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Final Water Quality Permits For The Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage Appalachian Reliability Natural Gas Pipeline Project In Armstrong, Greene and Westmoreland Counties [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On A Chapter 105 Permit For A Seneca Resources Co 16-Inch Shale Gas Water Pipeline Running Through Farmington & Chatham Townships, Tioga County [PaEN]

-- Energy Transfer Asks PUC To Dissolve Sunoco Pipeline Company And Transfer Assets To 2 New Companies-- One For Natural Gas Liquids Pipelines Like Mariner East Pipelines And Another For Refined Petroleum Product Pipelines [PaEN]

-- DEP published notice in the July 11 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a Mothball Plan notification received from PEI Power, LLC concerning a Title V Air Quality Permit for two landfill gas fired turbines in Archbald Boro, Lackawanna County. (PA Bulletin, Page 4180)

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Hearing July 30 On Water Withdrawal Requests, Including 2 Related To Shale Gas Development [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 63 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 11 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

-- DEP Restarts Comment Period On Corrected Major Amendment To Homer City Generation Data Center Project Industrial Wastewater Facility Permit In Indiana County [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Aug. 4 Hearing On Major Modification To Waste Permit For Blythe Recycling & Demolition Waste Site Landfill In Schuylkill County [PaEN]