COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
06/4/2015
CONTACT:
John Repetz, DEP
717-705-4904
PADEP Reaches Agreement with Hyndman Borough to Resolve Safe Drinking Water Violations. Bedford County Water System Pays $10,000 Civil Penalty
HARRISBURG, PA
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that Hyndman Borough in Bedford County has agreed to make necessary improvements that will address ongoing monitoring, treatment and recording issues at its water treatment plant. Hyndman Borough operates a community water system that serves approximately 1,000 customers, including Hyndman Elementary School in the Bedford Area School District.
Hyndman Borough and DEP entered into a Consent Order and Agreement on June 3, 2015, requiring corrective actions and improvements to the plant. In settlement of DEP’s claim for civil penalties, Hyndman Borough agreed to pay a civil penalty of $10,000. DEP issued a Public Water Supply Permit to Hyndman Borough on April 29, authorizing construction of the needed improvements.
During a routine Filter Plant Performance Evaluation in October 2014 to evaluate the plant’s operation and determine its compliance with Safe Drinking Water regulations, significant violations were discovered. The evaluation revealed that on numerous occasions, Hyndman had not maintained proper chlorine levels that ensured adequate disinfection, had not properly maintained monitoring equipment which resulted in inaccurate readings, and failed to record monitoring results.
“Previous inspections in 2008 and 2011 uncovered some areas of concern with the plant’s operational procedures which resulted in a ‘needs improvement’ rating,” said DEP South-central Regional Director Lynn Langer. “The operator’s past attempts were not successful at resolving all of those issues.
The recent discovery of additional acute issues now requires the operator to take more rigorous actions to ensure the plant is operating in an effective manner, and is capable of supplying water to its customers that meets current safe drinking water standards.”
For more information on DEP’s Safe Drinking Water program visit www.dep.state.pa.us.