Pickering Creek Dam Area Evacuation Order Lifted, Aqua Shuts Down

This story was updated at 5:45 p.m. to include newly released information.

LIMERICK TOWNSHIP, PA — Montgomery and Chester counties were hard-hit in Wednesday's storm and communities along the Schuylkill River were flooded late Wednesday as residents near Pickering Creek Dam were told on Wednesday to evacuate before the dam failed.

The evacuation order was lifted early Thursday.

Residents and businesses downstream of Pickering Creek Dam on Valley Forge Road (Rt. 23) near Phoenixville had been advised to evacuate "due to an imminent dam failure."

"Act now to protect life and property. Floodwaters will impact both sides of the Schuylkill River," the notification from Schuylkill Township said.

Nearby is the Pickering Creek water treatment plant, a PECO substation near the dam, and the surrounding area in Schuylkill Township, Chester County; and, the Schuylkill River Trail and Port Providence section in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County.

Aqua Pennsylvania announced Thursday afternoon it had shut down the Pickering East and West water treatment plants in Chester County because of the storm.

Aqua PA's notice said, "Aqua had to shut down our Pickering East and West water treatment plants due to heavy rainfall, flooding, and loss of power caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

"Please suspend all nonessential water use until we notify you that we've restored adequate water supply. Please remember to turn off automatic sprinklers if you have them. Aqua is making adjustments in other parts of our southeastern Pennsylvania water system to increase supply to our Pickering service area, but it will take time to offset the volume of water we normally produce at this plant. There is the potential for some customers to experience discolored water as we redirect water throughout our distribution system to sustain capacity," Aqua's public notice said.

Aqua said its toll-free customer service number is currently out of service due to flood-related issues experienced by our phone vendor.

Chester County residents needing shelter were told by Schuylkill Township to report to Phoenixville High School. Montgomery County residents needing shelter were directed to the recreation center at 499 Hopwood Ave.

At least four deaths have been confirmed after the powerful remnants of Hurricane Ida moved through Eastern Pennsylvania Wednesday. An EF-2 tornado has been confirmed in Montgomery County and additional locations are being investigated by National Weather Survey teams.

Richard Rotondo, of Phoenixville, took this drone video of flooding in Phoenixville Borough.

Read that full Patch story here.

Justin Heinze contributed to this report.

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