DROUGHT WATCH LIFTED FOR SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force that drought watch has been lifted for five counties and hydrologic conditions are normal statewide.

Drought watch has been lifted for Carbon, Luzerne, Northampton, Potter, and Schuylkill counties.

Broad Mountain and Indian Run System Disruption – 9/20/2022

Due to a significant water main break in our Broad Mountain System, the Greater Pottsville Area may experience temporary discolored water. Customers who have been directly affected (or without water) in the isolated area will be contacted individually. Due to the size of the break and the amount of water loss the systems were significantly disrupted causing the potential for discolored water. Please be advised that customers will be directly contacted if they are required to boil their water. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

DROUGHT WATCH DECLARED FOR SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has declared a drought watch for Schuylkill County.  SCMA is asking ALL customers to immediately begin to conserve water and reduce individual water use by 3-6 gallons a day.

Find out ways to conserve water here:  https://www3.epa.gov/region1/eco/drinkwater/water_conservation_residents.html

Schuylkill County Municipal Authority Featured in The Authority Magazine

Schuylkill County Municipal Authority was featured in the August 2022 edition of The Authority magazine by the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA). We would like to thank all of our staff for their diligent efforts that make SCMA a well-recognized and respected water and wastewater service provider in the Commonwealth.

The Transparency in Coverage Rule – July 1, 2022

The following link leads to the machine readable files that are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule and includes negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers:

https://capitalbluecross.healthsparq.com/healthsparq/public/#/one/insurerCode=CAPBC_I&brandCode=CAPBC

The machine-readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.

Drinking Water Week May 1-7, 2022

Drinking Water Week may only be for one week, but it’s an important time to appreciate all that it takes to ensure high-quality drinking water is always there when you need it.

Indian Run System Disruption – November 5, 2021

Yesterday, November 4, 2021, SCMA completed system improvements within our Indian Run distribution system on the west end of Pottsville near Sheetz.  As a result, we caused a disruption to our system, temporarily creating discolored water.  We want you to know that these system improvements were made to prevent future large scale disruptions and outages that we have experienced in the past.  SCMA field personnel have been working to resolve the issue by removing the discolored water from our system.  We will continue to work diligently until the issue is resolved.  We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for patience.

SCMA awarded $425,000 for Phase II of the Mahanoy Business Park Waterline Extension Project

At its meeting held on September 18, 2018, the Department of Community and Economic Development Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority (SCMA) a grant in the amount of $425,000 for Phase II of the Mahanoy Business Park Waterline Extension. The application was one of 236 approved projects throughout the Commonwealth for this round of financing. The project will extend a 12″ waterline from the storage tank on the north side of Interstate 81 to the south side of the interstate. The waterline will supply potable drinking water and fire service to a 400 acre site targeted for distribution warehousing that can generate 2,000 potential jobs. The newly served area has the potential for additional commercial and residential development. In 2013, SCMA invested $3.3 million dollars, including a $1.4 million dollar grant to extend water service to residents of New Boston, Vulcan and commercial/industrial customers in the partially developed Mahanoy Business Park as part of Phase I of the project. Since that time, additional development has occurred with the construction of the Comfort Inn Hotel and a proposed commercial development.

Prevent Frozen Pipes

Temperatures are forecast to remain below freezing for the next several days prompting concern about frozen pipes.  As the property owner, you are responsible for the protection of your property’s pipes and meters and for any damage to them.  Please note that we do not thaw frozen water lines.  Customers experiencing issues with frozen lines should contact a certified plumber. Here are some tips that will help you protect yourself from costly plumbing repairs:

• Insulate pipes. Be sure to insulate pipes in any unheated areas of your home. One way to insulate your pipes is using heat tape or pipe insulation. These items can be purchased at a local home improvement store.
• Protect your meter. If you have an outdoor meter pit, make sure the lid is not broken or missing. Pack the pit with insulating material, or even an old blanket.
• Eliminate drafts. Close off crawlspace vents and doors. Repair broken or cracked basement windows. Make sure basement doors and windows close tightly. Repair any broken or cracked basement windows
• Leave a very thin stream of water running constantly from at least one tap. We recommend using the tap farthest from the meter. The additional expense in your water bill will be minimal compared to the cost to replace a ruptured pipe.
• Open cabinet doors below all sinks to allow the warmth from inside your house to reach your pipes.

For more information about this public notice, please contact our office at 570-622-8240.  Thank you for your patience.