Jan 6, 2016 2 min read

CHARLEROI – A second public water authority in the Mon Valley has exceeded acceptable levels of cancer-causing chemicals in its supply.

The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Charleroi has notified its customers of the elevated levels of trihalomethanes in its supply to the Upper Speers and Twilight service areas.

It’s the same problem that has been ongoing at the Tri-County Joint Municipal Authority in Fredericktown, said John Poister, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection in Pittsburgh.

Poister said the problem in Charleroi is a rare occurrence and appears to be “organic in nature” because of high overflows at sewage treatment plants and heavy rains.

He said Charleroi added a settling pond to its treatment facilities that should eliminate the problem.

The pond is part of $3 million in expansions at the Charleroi authority, said its general manager, Ed Golanka.

Charleroi stated in its notice that its customers don’t need to use bottled water, but that they should consult their physicians if they have specific health concerns.

Tri-County needs to replace its treatment plant, but it cannot afford the cost, Poister said.

He said that authority is “working hard” to address the DEP’s concerns about its operation, but it will be a while before it can handle the trihalomethanes problem.

Meanwhile, Tri-County on Tuesday sued its former engineer in Washington County Court for the return of files it prepared for infrastructure improvements at the plant.

The authority employed Chester Engineering Services Inc. of Coraopolis between 2006 and 2015 and believes it’s entitled to the files, court records show.

Chester could not be reached Tuesday.