Westmoreland water authority to meet with contractors, gas well operators

Representatives from the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County plan to talk with companies that work around two of its fresh water sources — the Beaver Run Reservoir in Westmoreland County and the Youghiogheny River in Connellsville and McKeesport — about maintaining the integrity of its drinking water.

The authority plans to meet virtually on Friday with gas well operators, contractors and utilities that work on and around the water sources and its larger water protection areas. The authority hopes it will become an annual meeting.

The Beaver Run area covers the reservoir in Bell, Salem and Washington townships, while the Youghiogheny River area stretches from McKeesport, at its confluence with the Monongahela River, southward into Maryland and West Virginia.

Those in the meeting will learn about the protocols for sampling raw water and notifying the authority in the event of a chemical spill, the authority said.

Brian Hohman, authority business manager, said he anticipates there will be representatives from CNX Resources, the Canonsburg-based natural gas producer that has gas wells on and around the authority’s Beaver Run property.

CNX last year said it would apply for permits for gas well operations in Bell Township, with construction expected to begin this year.

“CNX and MAWC have ongoing dialogue across a wide range of issues related to our activity on and around the property,: said Brian Aiello, a CNX spokesman.

“Our top priority is operating safely and compliantly,” while developing the region’s natural gas resources, Aiello said.

CNX capped a well near the reservoir in 2019 because a drop in pressure affected other wells in the area, but not the drinking water in the reservoir.

The authority had a good response to its virtual meeting, said Matt Junker, authority spokesman, but he said he was not certain how many people will participate.