BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING

Hiervan el agua antes de usarla.

Este informe contiene información importante acerca de su agua potable.  Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.

We routinely monitor the conditions in the distribution system. On Wednesday, August 23, we experienced a loss of positive water pressure due to a water main break at 344, 347, 349, 350, 352, 353, 355, 357 Nectarine St and 1215,1217, 1219, 1221, 1223, 1225, 1227, 1229, 1231 Kittatinny St. in Harrisburg. A loss of positive water pressure is a signal of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back pressure or back-siphonage.  As a result, there is an increased chance that the water may contain bacteria that can make you sick.

What should I do?

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using; or use bottled water.  You should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice.

Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426‑4791.

What happened and what is being done?

A water main break created a low/no pressure situation at this location. Efforts were made to isolate the leak and restore normal system level and pressure as quickly as possible.

We will inform you when all corrective actions have been completed and when you no longer need to boil your water.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Robert E. Young Water Services Center, 888-510-0606

100 Pine Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17103

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by: Capital Region Water, PWS ID#: 7220049      Date distributed: 8/23/23

CAPITAL REGION WATER ACKNOWLEDGES ANOTHER CLEAN WATER MILESTONE

After many months of negotiation and consideration of public comment, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a Motion to Enter a Modification to the Partial Consent Decree between the United States and PADEP v. Capital Region Water and the City of Harrisburg as a judgement of the court. The motion to approve and enter the Modification occurred yesterday in Federal District Court in Harrisburg.

This Modification to the Partial Consent Decree will guide Capital Region Water’s wastewater and stormwater work for the next decade. Specific plans and projects are required to address alleged clean water violations, primarily due to sewer overflows and the discharge of polluted stormwater into local waterways. The filing establishes a timetable for compliance activity.

“Capital Region Water looks forward to meeting its clean water obligations, as it has since its inception 10 years ago, and ensuring that customers and stakeholders are partners in the process” said Capital Region Water CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer. ”Projects included in the Consent Decree will have a direct impact on determining customer rates, annual budgets, and system investments. Related construction activity, including community greening projects, can be expected.”

Like many communities across the country, more than half of Harrisburg’s sewer pipes are part of a combined sewer system meaning both sanitary waste and stormwater are collected and conveyed through the same pipes for treatment. During wet weather, the volume of stormwater sometimes exceeds the system’s capacity, triggering an overflow event — called a combined sewer overflow or CSO — from outfall locations along the Susquehanna River and Paxton Creek.

A consent decree (sometimes called a consent order) is a formal agreement created to resolve a dispute without fault. It’s a court order that establishes an enforceable plan for improvement. In 2015, after decades of infrastructure neglect and inaction by previous city administrations, a formal complaint against Capital Region Water and the City of Harrisburg and an agreed-upon Partial Consent Decree were filed in court. The 2015 Partial Consent Decree required specific compliance measures to control discharges from the sewer system, which consists of the combined and separate sanitary sewer collection systems, conveyance and treatment systems, and the municipal separate stormwater sewer system (MS4) within Harrisburg. The intent of the Partial Consent Decree was to allow sufficient time for Capital Region Water to develop an approvable long-term plan; however, it was acknowledged that the inherited system suffered from decades of neglect and disinvestment.

Under the Modification to the Partial Consent Decree, Capital Region Water will achieve full compliance with pollution and stormwater permits. An updated Long-Term Control Plan for CSO capture will be developed and submitted by December 31, 2024. This plan will evaluate the best means to control CSO activity to comply with the Clean Water Act.

Within ten (10) days of the Effective Date (i.e., the date on which the Court accepts the Modification), Capital Region Water will provide a list of all the deliverables and deadlines included in the Modification to the Partial Consent Decree. Capital Region Water will continue to report progress on a semi-annual basis by March 31 and September 30 of each year.

Ongoing information will be available through the website and associated public notification procedures. For more details on the City Beautiful H2O Program Plan, CRW’s integrated plan to restore failing infrastructure, reduce combined sewer discharges, improve the health of local waterways, and beautify our neighborhoods through community greening, please visit our website at: www.capitalregionwater.com/what-we-do/cbh2o/

On July 12, 2023, a collection of municipal interests filed an amicus brief urging the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to ensure that Commonwealth-owned properties pay stormwater fees like ordinary property owners.  A team comprised of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA), the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB), the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners (PSATC), the Pennsylvania Municipal League (PML), Capital Region Water, the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority, the Borough of Chambersburg, East Hanover Township Municipal Authority, the City of Philadelphia, the City of Lancaster, the City of Lock Haven, the City of Franklin, Susquehanna Township, Mt. Lebanon Township, Ferguson Township, the Borough of State College, and Ebensburg Borough joined together in preparing the brief.

The case, Borough of West Chester v. Pa. State System of Higher Education, saw the Commonwealth Court earlier this year rule that the stormwater charge of a home-rule borough was a tax that the Commonwealth was exempt from paying.  West Chester immediately appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, where the dispute currently continues.

In its opinion, the Commonwealth Court justified its decision to exempt the state agency from paying stormwater bills because it merely burdened the municipal system with runoff rather than receiving a specific benefit.  It also reasoned that West Chester’s stormwater program provided a benefit for everyone.  And, for that reason, tax-exempt entities need not pay.

The decision came as a surprise to the many municipal entities across the Commonwealth implementing stormwater programs to comply with regulatory mandates and meeting the associated funding need.  E. Lee Stinnett II of Salzmann Hughes, P.C.—which represents the above interests in preparation of the brief and serves as Solicitor to several of the involved municipalities—had the following to say: “Across the Commonwealth, municipalities and authorities have planned, managed, and implemented stormwater programs with supporting fees just like any other similar service.  The Commonwealth required these programs to meet its obligations to the EPA under the Chesapeake Bay deal.  Hypocritically, it has refused to pay its fair share and instead is attempting to pass the costs of managing its own stormwater onto ordinary ratepayers.”

In effect, the Commonwealth Court exempted some of the largest contributors of stormwater runoff because they carried a tax-exempt designation.  “When we established the program and supporting fee, we met with residents and business owners throughout Harrisburg to make it as fair as we could,” said Capital Region Water (CRW) Chairman Marc Kurowski—CRW operates, maintains, and improves the water, wastewater, and stormwater systems for Harrisburg and its surrounding communities.  He added, “Under this decision, the Commonwealth still receives the stormwater services we provide but doesn’t have to pay for it.  That’s incredibly difficult to explain to all the other customers who worked with us from the beginning.”

Other issues exist besides fairness.  It is unclear how local municipal entities would restructure their programs to adjust.  Chief Executive Officer, Charlotte Katzenmoyer, explained some of the difficulties: “CRW provides stormwater management services for the Harrisburg area, which is littered with large, paved Commonwealth properties like the Capitol Complex. The Commonwealth not having to pay leaves a huge gap in our budget, and it is highly unlikely the Department of Environmental Protection will soften our permit requirements any time soon.  The simple fact is that compliance costs money.  These logistical problems are being shoved to the most local levels of government to figure out.”

The Borough of West Chester is scheduled to further brief its position in the litigation.  Shortly following, the Commonwealth will present its arguments in favor of upholding the decision.  For additional information, please contact E. Lee Stinnett II at (717) 234 – 6700.

Capital Region Water announced today that the 2023 Drinking Water Quality Report is now available for its customers. The document, commonly called the Consumer Confidence Report, provides information about the quality of drinking water supplied by Capital Region Water in 2022. It also identifies CRW’s source waters, describes its treatment processes, and summarizes compliance with drinking water standards over the past year.

According to the Safe Drinking Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all water suppliers to assess local water quality throughout the year and distribute an annual Water Quality Report. The Water Quality Report includes information about the source of the water (the DeHart Reservoir), any contaminants detected in the water, and how it compares to EPA and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulatory standards. CRW’s drinking water professionals perform various tests each day before water leaves the treatment plant and enters the distribution system. Most of these tests are required, however, proactive testing is also performed as a commitment to CRW’s core values and mission to be stewards of our community’s water systems from raindrop to river.

“We are committed to providing our customers with safe and reliable drinking water,” said Charlotte Katzenmoyer, CEO of Capital Region Water. “We encourage our customers to review the report and contact us if they have any questions or concerns.”

The 2023 Water Quality Report was mailed to each drinking water customer and can also be accessed online at Capital Region Water’s website – www.capitalregionwater.com. Customers who do not have access to the internet can request a paper copy of the report by calling the Customer Service Center at (888) 510-0606.

Capital Region Water would like to remind its customers that during the hotter, drier summer months drinking water customers can protect their wallets and CRW water sources by practicing conservation — ensuring that water is being used efficiently while avoiding overuse. Limiting use should also translate to lower water consumption costs in monthly CRW bills.

Although CRW’s water supplies, the DeHart Reservoir and Susquehanna River, are resilient and reliable, voluntary conservation practices are encouraged. Save Money, Save Water through Conservation.

EL PROBLEMA DE AGUA POTABLE ESTA CORREGIDO

Customers of Capital Region Water were notified on Thursday, April 20, 2023 of a problem with our drinking water and were advised to “BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING”. We are pleased to report that the problem has been corrected and that it is no longer necessary to “BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING”. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

As always, you may contact Capital Region Water at 888-510-0606 or writing to 100 Pine Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17103 with any comments or questions. You can also visit capitalregionwater.com to learn more.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by Capital Region Water. PWS ID 7220049 Date distributed: 4/26/23

BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING

Hiervan el agua antes de usarla.

Este informe contiene información importante acerca de su agua potable.  Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.

We routinely monitor the conditions in the distribution system. On Thursday, April 20, 2023 we experienced a loss of positive water pressure due to a water main repair that resulted in a service shut off at 1001 S. 14^th Street in Harrisburg. A loss of positive water pressure is a signal of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back pressure or back-siphonage.  As a result, there is an increased chance that the water may contain bacteria that can make you sick.

What should I do?

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using; or use bottled water.  You should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice.

Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426‑4791.

What happened and what is being done?

A service line repair created a low/no pressure situation at this location. Efforts are being made to complete repairs and restore normal system level and pressure as quickly as possible.

We will inform you when all corrective actions have been completed and when you no longer need to boil your water.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Robert E. Young Water Services Center, 888-510-0606

100 Pine Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17103

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by: Capital Region Water, PWS ID#: 7220049      Date distributed: 4/20/23

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Boil Water Advisory – Capital Region Water

EL PROBLEMA DE AGUA POTABLE ESTA CORREGIDO

Customers of Capital Region Water were notified on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 of a problem with our drinking water and were advised to “BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING”. We are pleased to report that the problem has been corrected and that it is no longer necessary to “BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING”. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

As always, you may contact Capital Region Water at 888-510-0606 or writing to 100 Pine Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17103 with any comments or questions. You can also visit capitalregionwater.com to learn more.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by Capital Region Water. PWS ID 7220049 Date distributed: 4/6/2023

BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING

Hiervan el agua antes de usarla.

Este informe contiene información importante acerca de su agua potable.  Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.

We routinely monitor the conditions in the distribution system. On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, we experienced a loss of positive water pressure due to an emergency service shut-off and repair to the water main affecting properties at 1611-1637 Park Street and 21-25 N 16^th Street in Harrisburg. A loss of positive water pressure is a signal of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back pressure or back-siphonage.  As a result, there is an increased chance that the water may contain bacteria that can make you sick.

What should I do?

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using; or use bottled water.  You should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice.

Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426‑4791.

What happened and what is being done?

A water main repair created a low/no pressure situation at this location. Efforts were made to repair the main and restore normal system level and pressure as quickly as possible.

We will inform you when all corrective actions have been completed and when you no longer need to boil your water.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Robert E. Young Water Services Center, 888-510-0606

100 Pine Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17103

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by: Capital Region Water, PWS ID#: 7220049      Date distributed: 4/4/2023

Full List of Affected Properties

• 25 N 16TH ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1614 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1616 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1620 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1622 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1624 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1626 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1628 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1632 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1634 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 21 N 16TH ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1611 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1613 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1617 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1619 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1621 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1623 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1625 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1627 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1629 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1631 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1633 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1635 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1637 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1630 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103
• 1615 PARK ST, HARRISBURG, PA 17103

RECOGNIZED AS A ROADMAP FOR COLLABORATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

After many months of negotiation, Capital Region Water, the city of Harrisburg, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) reached agreement to file a material modification to the 2015 Partial Consent Decree for clean water. This Modification to the Partial Consent Decree will guide Capital Region Water’s wastewater and stormwater work for the next decade. The court filing occurred today in Federal District Court in Harrisburg. Capital Region Water looks forward to meeting its clean water obligations, as it has since its inception, and ensuring that customers and stakeholders are partners in the process.

“Capital Region Water has not wavered from its commitment to clean water in and around Harrisburg,” said Capital Region Water CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer. “The compliance milestones and projects identified in the Modification to the Partial Consent Decree will ensure compliance with wet weather targets, but it’s not the end goal. We encourage public comment now and will continue to provide various opportunities for the public to provide input on a larger plan to control combined sewer overflow events, which are a symptom of our dated, aging infrastructure.”

A consent decree (sometimes called a consent order) is a formal agreement created to resolve a dispute without fault. It’s a court order that establishes an enforceable plan for improvement. In 2015, after decades of infrastructure neglect and inaction by previous city administrations, a formal complaint against CRW and the city of Harrisburg and an agreed-upon Partial Consent Decree were filed in court. The 2015 Partial Consent Decree required specific compliance measures to control discharges from the sewer system, which consists of the combined and separate sanitary sewer collection systems, conveyance and treatment systems, and the municipal separate stormwater sewer system (MS4) within the city of Harrisburg. The intent of the Partial Consent Decree was to allow sufficient time for Capital Region Water to develop an approvable long-term plan; however, it was acknowledged that the inherited system suffered from decades of neglect and disinvestment.

This Modification to the Partial Consent Decree is drafted to address alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law, primarily due to sewer overflows and the discharge of polluted stormwater, and incorporates steps that are being taken and will be taken to achieve baseline conditions for an acceptable Long-Term Control Plan. The goal remains the same – improved water quality and implementation of defined compliance measures. 

After the Modification is filed in court, notice will be provided in the Federal Register, and customers and stakeholders will have a 30-day public comment period to provide comment on the Modification to the Partial Consent Decree. Please visit https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees for further details.

After consideration of public comments and any final changes, the partner agencies, led by DOJ, will ask the court to approve and enter the Modification to the Partial Consent Decree. When the court grants this motion, the Consent Decree will be final.

Capital Region Water will continue to report progress on a semi-annual basis. Information will be available through the website and associated public notification procedures. For more details on the City Beautiful H2O Program Plan, CRW’s integrated plan to restore failing infrastructure, reduce combined sewer discharges, improve the health of local waterways, and beautify our neighborhoods through community greening, please visit our website at: www.capitalregionwater.com/what-we-do/cbh2o/

To Submit Formal Comment:

Public Comment Period:

Members of the public have an opportunity to review and comment on the plan until March 20, 2023.

Department of Justice website:

www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decree/us-et-al-v-capital-region-water-and-city-harrisburg-pa

Comments can be submitted via:

• Email: pubcomment-ees.enrd@usdoj.gov.

• Mail: Assistant Attorney General, U.S. DOJ—ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, D.C. 20044–7611.

Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and should refer to United States and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection v. Capital Region Water and City of Harrisburg, D.J. Ref. No. 90–5–1–1–10157.

MODIFICATION TO THE PARTIAL CONSENT DECREE & CITY BEAUTIFUL H2O PROGRAM PLAN

Capital Region Water is awaiting final signatures to modify its Partial Consent Decree — an agreement with state and federal regulators that will serve as a roadmap for wastewater and stormwater improvements over the next decade.

The modification is designed to address alleged ongoing violations of the federal Clean Water Act and state Clean Streams Law, primarily due to sewer overflows and discharges of polluted stormwater into local waterways. Under the plan, CRW aims to make system improvements, implementing defined compliance measures that will aid in the overall goal of improving the quality of local waterways and protecting those downstream.

Projects included in this plan will have a direct effect on determining customer rates and annual budgets. Customers, residents, and other stakeholders will have opportunities to review and comment on the plan, including at an upcoming public feedback event scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. February 9, 2023, at the CRW Administrative Offices located at 3003 N. Front Street, Harrisburg Pa. 17110. Additional information about the event is available at capitalreigonwater.com and through CRW social media. Once all parties sign the modification, there also will be a formal, 30-day public comment period noticed via the Federal Register.

“This is another milestone along the path for clean water in and around Harrisburg,” said Capital Region Water CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer. “The plan has evolved, but the goal remains the same – improved water quality and implementation of targeted, verified system improvements that will move us toward regulatory compliance, including during wet-weather events. The feedback session is a great opportunity for the public to provide input on a larger plan to control combined sewer overflow events, which are a symptom of our dated, aging infrastructure that exists in Harrisburg and nearly 800 communities throughout the United States.”

Since 2015, CRW has been operating under a Partial Consent Decree, which serves as a guide to improving and protecting the quality of local waterways, like the Susquehanna River and Paxton Creek. The agreement includes specific compliance measures that CRW must follow to control discharges from our sewer system, which includes both combined and separate sanitary and storm sewers. The City Beautiful H2O Program Plan is CRW’s integrated approach to addressing system-wide infrastructure rehabilitation and high-priority water quality compliance activities.

CRW has negotiated a draft to alter the original Consent Decree, working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. A draft was recently approved by CRW’s Board of Directors. The city of Harrisburg has also signed off on the agreement. As we await final signatures from the federal government, CRW looks to ensure that the public has opportunity to understand and influence their role in creating a cleaner and greener city through the City Beautiful H2O program.

For more details on our current City Beautiful H2O Program Plan, please visit our website at: www.capitalregionwater.com/what-we-do/cbh2o/