Sunoco responds after fouling drinking water wells

Drilling suspended following reports of well water problems

Sunoco Pipeline is working with 14 households in the Exton area “to resolve private water well water issues near construction on the Mariner East 2 pipeline,” according to a release sent Monday by Jeffrey Shields of Sunoco.

Sunoco contaminated well drinking water while digging the pipeline. Uwchlan Township officials reported at Monday’s meeting that public water provider Aqua America, Inc., had recently tested public water supplies and they were deemed safe.

Homes on Township Line Road and Valley View Drive, mostly in West Whiteland Township, but also in Uwchlan Township, first reported either losing water pressure or experiencing cloudy water beginning Monday July 3, reads the release.

State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19, and State Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-156, opposed restarting construction until the problem is fully understood and addressed.

Crews have been working on a horizontal directional drill to lay pipeline between West Whiteland and Uwchlan, with a total of 23 miles of planned pipeline construction through Chester County.

“Drilling was suspended July 3, following the first reports of well water problems,” reads the release. “Measures were taken to stabilize the drill hole and prevent infiltration of groundwater into the drill hole, and drilling resumed Saturday, July 8, with backup water supplies in place as a precaution. We are working in close coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to ensure that our activities meet the strict guidelines of our permits.”

Shields stated that water supply was restored to those who lost it, additional filtration devices for households experiencing cloudy water were installed, water testing is underway and bottled water was provided to affected residents.

“We have tested approximately 26 private wells in total (a number of residents requested the testing as a precaution) and are awaiting full results,” Sunoco said. “One family chose to remain in a hotel Saturday and Sunday night, and none tonight, as of last report. We had as many as five families one night last week (Wednesday) in hotels.”

Work is under construction on the 350-mile long pipeline that would stretch from the refinery in Marcus Hook, Delaware County to the Marcellus Shale deposits in western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

Sunoco said it will continue to monitor construction in a bid to minimize any further impacts to residents.

“Full restoration of service will be accomplished; we’re looking at all avenues to make sure that people have water supply to their homes,” reads the release.

Sunoco said that test results will allow the company to better understand the cause.

“The drilling mud that we are using is composed of potable water and bentonite clay, which is the same mixture used to drill drinking water wells,” Sunoco said. “The bentonite clay is a non-toxic, naturally occurring clay that is not a hazardous substance. The bentonite, including its components, must comply with safe drinking standards.

“Our schedule remains estimated completion of the first (20-inch) pipeline by end of September 2017 and the second pipeline (16-inch) in 2018,” according to Sunoco.