Contaminants found in McKeesport water system, do not drink order extended for 30 customers

Water restrictions in McKeesport were extended Friday for about 30 residents in the city’s Lower 10th Ward after contaminants were found in samples collected from homes this week.

Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said a majority of the homes and businesses were removed from the “Do Not Drink” order imposed last weekend.

Tests confirmed chemicals used by firefighters were sucked into a hydrant and contaminated a smaller portion of the city’s water system in an area near West 5th Avenue, according to authority spokesman Matthew Junker.

That order originally impacted about 250 McKeesport homes and businesses. Junker said authority personnel late Friday afternoon started to issue notifications both by telephone and in person to residents to let them know if the water was safe to drink.

The authority spent the last week flushing its water system following the July 16 fire. On Wednesday it directed property owners in the impacted section of the city to flush water lines and fixtures within buildings in those areas.

“A second round of testing was done in people’s homes and that is where we found those results (of contamination),” Junker said.

The more contained impacted area where the do not drink order is still in place includes parts of West 5th Avenue, Arlington, Dawson and Rebecca Streets, Romine Avenue and Pickwich Alley. Water should not be used for drinking or hygiene. Toilets can be flushed, the authority said.

Additional flushing and testing will be done over the next several days. Junker said there is no timeline as to when the contamination will be cleared from those areas.

A water buffalo and bottled water station was moved to the parking lot of The Elbow Room at West 5th Avenue and Rebecca Street. Water deliveries for shut-ins and disabled residents can be arranged by calling the McKeesport Fire Department at 412 675-5021.

Showers are available at McKeesport Area High School between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Buses will be available to transport residents to use the shower with pickups and drop offs at the water stations at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. 11 a.m. 3 p.m., 4 p.m. 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.