Press Release

PUC Approves Initial Decision, Settlement on PA American Water Plan to Use Chloramines in Harrisburg-area Water Systems

Published on 5/14/2009

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today adopted an initial decision and approved a settlement on the plan by PA American Water Co. (PAWC) to use chloramines in its West Shore Regional Treatment Plant, York County, and Silver Spring Water Treatment Plant, Cumberland County.

The Commission voted 5-0 to adopt the administrative law judge’s initial decision and approve a settlement between the company and the state’s Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA). The Commission found that the settlement was in the public interest because the company will take actions that address the concerns raised by the customers in a complaint proceeding. Commission Chairman James H. Cawley issued a statement.

The settlement contained the following conditions:

• To provide certain information to customers at least three months prior to implementing chloramination including sending a copy of its online chloramination pamphlet to its affected customers and clear and conspicuous notice of the anticipated date of implementation.  PAWC also will post information on its Web site that will include topics of interest such as the removal of chloramines from household water; a link to filtration information; the effect on household plumbing; information regarding chloramine disinfection byproducts; and health and safety issues for customers and pets.
• To train its customer service representatives about these issues so that they can provide an informed response to customers’ inquiries.
• To monitor for nitrification and to undertake an action plan in case of nitrification. Nitrification is the process by which ammonia is converted to nitrites and then nitrates. Nitrification can cause a loss of disinfectant residual.
• To test ten homes selected by the OCA for increased lead levels.
• To monitor developments related to the health effects and regulations concerning nitrogenous and iodinated disinfectant byproducts and to post annually a summary of its findings.
• To make prudent changes to treatment and/or facilities as may be necessary to conform to changes in regulatory requirements.

The PUC understands that some of the matters in the settlement relate to actions the company will take that are within the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) jurisdiction. These include monitoring requirements, which will continue as long as PAWC uses chloramines in its West Shore treatment plants, a nitrification action plan that has an employee training component and the monitoring of ten homes selected by the OCA for lead in drinking water for as long as PAWC uses chloramines.

The Commission said, while these settlement conditions may be outside the PUC jurisdiction, the conditions will be beneficial to customers because they are designed to alleviate customer concerns regarding chloramine and to assure customers that PAWC’s use of chloramines will be monitored in a consistent and continuous manner. 

In September 2007, Susan K. Pickford and about 20 other customers of PAWC in Cumberland County filed formal complaints objecting to PAWC’s proposed conversion of the West Shore Regional Treatment Plant and Silver Spring Water Treatment Plant from chlorinated water to chloraminated water because of potential adverse health and property damage effects.

The complainants did not join in the settlement. With the adoption of the initial decision, the complaints were dismissed. According to the initial decision, the complainants did not meet their burden of proving that the company had violated any provisions of the Public Utility Code or Commission regulations.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our Web site at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. C-20078029

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