Aqua Pennsylvania released a statement today regarding the drinking water in greater Glenside following the fire at SPS Technologies in Jenkintown.

Aqua said it is collecting and testing water samples in the area in an ongoing basis. Residents in Abington, Cheltenham, and Jenkintown “can be assured their water is safe to drink,” the statement said. “Continued tests have shown our drinking water quality meets all standards.”

The statement addresses three concerns: Firefighting runoff, cloudy water (addressed on February 21), and salty-tasting water (addressed on February 14).

First, the waterways impacted by the firefighting efforts are not used by Aqua to provide drinking water to our neighbors in Abington and Cheltenham Townships and Jenkintown Borough. Your water comes from a source several miles away from the fire scene. No firefighting runoff entered your source water.

Second, some customers may have noticed their water appears slightly cloudy. The pipes in the streets that deliver drinking water to your homes are the same pipes that service the fire hydrants used to battle the warehouse fire. The prolonged, intense movement of water in the pipes can lead to cloudiness in the drinking water, usually from entrained air. Again, please know, your water is safe to drink.

Finally, you may have noticed your drinking water has a slightly salty taste. This is not related to the fire. This change is largely attributed to the runoff of road salts used on roadways, parking lots, and other treated surfaces in response to recent winter storms and icing conditions. Road salts are typically made up of a combination of sodium, chloride and calcium, all of which are naturally occurring and can be found in drinking water on any given day. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have secondary standard for chloride, however secondary standards are not considered to have any public health risks. The issue is further exacerbated from low stream flow from the persistent drought which has the effect of limiting dilution of the chloride concentrations.

Aqua can be reached at 877.987.2782 with questions and concerns.

For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.