Federal Agency Cancels Water Delivery To Pa. Town

Published January 7, 2012 11:09PM (EST)

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has abruptly changed its mind about delivering fresh water to residents of a northeastern Pennsylvania village where residential wells were tainted from natural gas drilling operations.

Only 24 hours after promising them water, EPA officials on Saturday informed residents of Dimock (Dih-mick) that a tanker truck wouldn't be coming after all. Once again, residents are scrambling for water for bathing, washing dishes and flushing toilets. Agency officials would not explain why they reneged on their promise.

At least a dozen homeowners in the rural community of Dimock Township have been without a reliable source of water since the gas driller blamed for polluting their aquifer, Houston-based Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., won permission from state environmental regulators to halt deliveries more than a month ago.


By Salon Staff

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