Water conservation order still in effect for many Mechanicsburg-area residents

A mandatory water conservation order remains in effect for thousands of Pennsylvania American Water customers in Cumberland and York counties.The company hopes to be able to lift the notice within the next week or week and a half.In the meantime, customers in the Mechanicsburg water system should continue to limit their water use to essential purposes only.The order was issued Tuesday after an underground storage tank leaked heating oil into the Conodoguinet Creek. Pennsylvania American Water said it took its Silver Spring treatment plant offline due to the contamination.But the company wants customers to know the water is safe to drink.”The conservation notice has nothing to do with the safety of the water. The conservation notice is to make sure we have the safe water available to everyone and for emergency management folks in case of a fire or emergency of that nature,” Director of Operations Joe Woodward said.Pennsylvania American Water has increased production at another treatment plant and opened emergency connections with two neighboring water suppliers to help meet demand.The company said it’s working with the state Department of Environmental Protection to determine when creek water can be used again.When conditions improve, customers will be alerted through an automated emergency notification system. Updates are also being posted to the company’s website.Affected municipalitiesResidents in the following areas are impacted by the water conservation order:Silver Spring TownshipHampden TownshipLower Allen TownshipLemoyneWormleysburgEast Pennsboro TownshipNew CumberlandFairview TownshipShiremanstownCamp HillNewberry Township

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