Stop Nonessential Water Usage: Aqua PA To Philly-Area Customers

BRYN MAWR, PA — Aqua Pennsylvania is urging its customers in the Philadelphia region to limit their water usage to only essential tasks as it works to repair two treatment plants that were damaged Wednesday.

The utility company was forced to shut down the Pickering East and West water treatment plants in Phoenixville due to heavy rainfall, flooding and loss of power.

While some service resumed at the east plant, a damage assessment revealed a larger impact on the plant from the storm.

Customers should discontinue nonessential water use until further notice.

Those who have automatic sprinklers were advised to turn them off.

Aqua PA said full recovery will take some time and customers are asked to curtail water use until further notice.

"The remnants of Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc throughout southeastern Pennsylvania," said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. "And our thoughts and prayers are with all of the people devastated by terrible flooding, tornadoes and high winds. Our employees are working tirelessly to restore full water supply to serve the families, businesses and communities who rely on us, and we appreciate our customers’ cooperation by conserving water."

Aqua is making adjustments in other parts of its interconnected southeastern Pennsylvania water system to increase supply to the Pickering service area, but it will take time to offset the volume of water normally produced at the two plants.

Customers can go to Aqua's website here for updates or follow Aqua on Facebook and on Twitter

Aqua Pennsylvania serves about 1.4 million people in 32 counties in Pennsylvania.