New Castle News

Local News

Discussion

October 17, 2008

Sewage flow stopped

Raw sewage is no longer flowing into the Shenango River from a Mercer County pump station.

For several days, a broken line was dumping as much as 500,000 gallons of untreated waste into the river, according to a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman.

The problem prompted increased monitoring at the Pennsylvania American Water Co.’s New Castle plant, which obtains drinking water for the city and surrounding communities from the river.

Earlier this week, testing by the water company found no changes in the river’s water quality. Today, Pennsylvania American communications manager Gary Lobaugh confirmed that was still the case.

According to Freda Tarbell, community relations coordinator for the DEP, the spill began Oct. 9 when a main collector line ruptured at the Orangeville Road pump station of the Upper Shenango Valley Water Pollution Control Authority.

Tarbell said authority personnel made repeated “good faith” attempts to repair the line, but it kept blowing out. Eventually, two bypass lines were built to take the flow, which is transported to the city of Sharon’s sewage treatment plant. A second bypass line was necessary, according to Tarbell, because the first was not large enough to handle the flow.

The affected pump station is now being completely bypassed and not in use.

The Upper Shenango Valley authority services residents in Sharpsville and South Pymatuning Township in Pennsylvania and Patagonia and Brookfield in Ohio, Tarbell said.

Although the amount of raw sewage that flowed into the river was difficult to calculate because of the repair attempts and bypass work, Tarbell estimated that at its height, about 500,000 gallons of untreated sewage was flowing into the river in a 24-hour period.

When asked if the DEP was checking for increased contamination in the Shenango that might impact New Castle’s water supply, Tarbell said the agency relies on Pennsylvania American to do the monitoring. The company submits its findings to the state agency.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • money.jpg City pension fund sees gain in final quarter

    The city of New Castle’s employee pension fund gained in value during the last quarter of 2011. The gain is attributed to a strong showing in the stock market during the period following poor performance in the previous three months.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • gavel.jpg Judge denies new trial in McGaffic case

    Senior Judge Michael J. Wherry has denied a new trial regarding a property in downtown New Castle. In an order of court handed down yesterday, Wherry denied a new trial “because the plaintiffs lack standing as explained in the order of court dated Dec. 21, 2011.”

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Olszak.jpg Mitchel Olszak: Scammers learn to feed off human fear

    A few weeks ago, my computer went crazy. Boxes filled with warning notices and ominous-looking yellow triangles popped up on my screen, to tell me my system was filled with dangerous viruses. I was in imminent danger of having all sorts of personal information, passwords and financial data stolen.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • manna.jpg John K. Manna: State Supreme Court explains fault with redistricting plan

    A couple of things: We finally have an opinion. A week after it threw out a redistricting plan for state legislative districts, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court released its opinion yesterday.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • Mitchell.jpg Elected councilman contests disqualification

    A New Castle City Council candidate contends he should not be disqualified from holding office because he is seeking clemency.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ramsey.jpg Dave Ramsey: Proper insurance can transfer risk

    “Dave Says" is a weekly column featuring financial advice from nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. His column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual letters and calls on Ramsey's radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show.”

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • City planning OKs school addition

     The New Castle Planning Commission has recommended a conditional use be granted for a school addition. The New Castle Area School District plans to construct an addition to the Harry W. Lockley Kindergarten Center and create an early learning center.

    February 3, 2012

  • money.jpg Mortgage rates trigger surge in buying, refinancing

    Some sectors of the economy may still be sluggish, but the housing market in Lawrence County isn’t one of them. Mortgage loans, both for refinancing and home purchases, are up significantly in the last several months in the county, according to local banks and real estate agents.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Brothers.jpg Lori Brothers: Organic is good, but it’s not always necessary

    How often do you have a great conversation with your produce man? I encourage it. I got quite an explanation about how organic veggies are handled. I also found out there are certain guidelines about where they can even be located to be sold as “organic.”

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Mastrangelo.jpg Our Opinion, Part 2: Mayor’s hiring of his son raises more serious questions

    If you ask New Castle residents to identify the biggest problem in local government, one word will stand out:
    Nepotism. The term, of course, refers to the hiring of one’s relatives for positions, regardless of the fact others are equally — or more — deserving of available positions.

    February 1, 2012 1 Photo 1 Story