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Residents concerned over lack of communication after Cumberland County oil leak

Well users in the area of Cumberland Perry Career & Technical Center were not immediately notified after Tuesday's leak into the Conodoguinet Creek.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Days after a massive oil leak in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County, residents along East Willow Terrace Drive are not seeing or smelling the issue.

"There's no smell, there's no rainbow and no swirl in the water," Silver Spring Township resident Joan Tafel said.

It’s what Joan and her other neighbors didn’t hear, that has them concerned.

"We received no information at all," she said.

Many on her street, who do not use water from Pennsylvania American Water Company, did not receive any notification when the leak initially occurred.

"We were totally unaware of it when I read it in the news, that it was 9,100 gallons that spilled but we were unaware of it," Joan said. "We received no notification from the township or DEP."

Residents were informed after calling the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Credit: WPMT/Nick Waldner
Conodoguinet Creek in Cumberland County on Thursday, October 19, 2023.

On Thursday,  Silver Spring Township released a statement saying they will be testing well water in the immediate area of the school, such as Joan’s property. 

Follow updates from the Township here.

There have also been several mitigation processes implemented in the creek.

“That makes us feel a lot better," Joan said. "We were really concerned the other day when the township wouldn't really give any answers."

She says they haven’t tasted a difference in their water but is concerned about what she feels was a lack of communication.

"We just want to know what they have to say," Joan said. "How they feel that it should be handled what's been done so far, and what they plan to do in the future.”

Officials with the Department of Environmental Protection said contractors extracted the leaking tank with DEP staff on site Thursday morning, and that they are monitoring the situation and cleanup.

In the latest statement from the Pennsylvania Water Company, it extended the current mandatory water conservation order, though says the water is safe to drink.

MECHANICSBURG SYSTEM: A mandatory water conservation order has been issued for customers in our Mechanicsburg system,...

Posted by Pennsylvania American Water on Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Cumberland Perry Area Career and Technical Center will return to session Friday.

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