Residents could be drinking Springdale-provided water for at least the next few weeks and might pay higher consumption rates if the situation lasts longer than expected, a borough official said.
Springdale started supplying Cheswick on March 11 after it became evident the brown water Cheswick residents noticed coming from their faucets wasn't getting clearer.
Cheswick Borough Secretary Andy Bock said the water became discolored from a combination of problems, among them issues with the borough's "iron and manganese tank."
The discoloration started March 7, he said.
While investigating the problem, crews noticed some holes in the tank and missing "green sand," or sediment, which purifies the water, Bock said.
He said the 7-year-old tank is nearing the end of its life span, which might have contributed to the situation.
Replacing it could cost more than $250,000 and take months, he said.
The borough hopes to get a county grant to cover most of the cost of replacing the tank, Bock said.
Additionally, borough officials said putting more chlorine in the water, as mandated by the state Department of Environmental Protection, had an effect on the color.
The bottom line, Bock said, is the tank wasn't removing enough manganese.
Borough officials indicated the discoloration didn't pose a public health threat.
They now are weighing options for providing water to residents. As explained by Bock, the borough could repair its existing tank, have it replaced or have Springdale or Harmar become a permanent supplier.
A best-case scenario, Bock said, would be having the borough start supplying water again to its residents within four weeks to eight weeks.
At worst, it could be nine months, he speculated.
Springdale Councilman Jason Fry said Springdale is charging Cheswick a water consumption rate of $6 per 1,000 gallons.
Bock estimated that Cheswick is drawing 200,000 gallons of water on a daily basis. Asked if the borough might need to increase the water rate it charges residents, he said, "It's possible. It depends on how much further we go."
Cheswick charges its residents $5.75 per 1,000 gallons of water, according to Bock.
