DEP Announces Testing for Radioactivity of River Water Downstream
of Marcellus Water Treatment Plants Shows Water Is Safe
PA-DEP Release
7 March 2011
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
CONTACT: Katy Gresh, Department of Environmental Protection Southwest
Regional Office, 412-442-4203
HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection today
announced results of in-stream water quality monitoring for radioactive
material in seven of the commonwealth’s rivers. All samples showed
levels at or below the normal naturally occurring background levels of
radioactivity.
The tests were conducted in November and December of 2010 at stations
downstream of wastewater treatment plants that accept flowback and
production water from Marcellus Shale drilling.
“We deal in facts based on sound science,” said DEP acting Secretary
Michael Krancer. “Here are the facts: all samples were at or below
background levels of radioactivity; and all samples showed levels below
the federal drinking water standard for Radium 226 and 228.”
Krancer said that these sampling stations were installed last fall
specifically to monitor stream quality for potential impacts of
Marcellus development.
Krancer explained that the water tested is the raw water in the river
before it enters public water suppliers’ intakes where the water
receives further treatment.
The river testing stations that were evaluated are the Monongahela at
Charleroi in Washington County; South Fork Ten Mile Creek in Greene
County; Conemaugh in Indiana County; Allegheny at Kennerdell in Venango
County; Beaver in Beaver County; Tioga in Tioga County; and the West
Branch of the Susquehanna in Lycoming County.
For more information about DEP, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us or call
412-442-4203.