Water Advisory In Place In McKeesport

MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Residents in part of McKeesport have been advised not to use water after firefighting efforts possibly contaminated the drinking water system. The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County issued the Do Not Use advisory early Saturday morning for about 500 customers in the Lower 10th Ward, as well as the streets between 5th Avenue and the Monongahela River, among other places. The advisory stated that firefighting foam containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are synthetic chemicals, and glycol, may have been sucked into a fire hydrant Friday during an emergency incident, introducing it into the drinking water system. PFAS and glycol in drinking water may be a serious health concern. Officials also say those chemicals can’t be removed by boiling, freezing or letting the water stand, so they say to use bottled water or alternative sources for drinking, bathing, hand washing, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, cooking, or food preparation until further notice. This possibly happened during efforts to put out a fire at McKeesport Auto Body on Rebecca Avenue on Friday. As MAWC awaits test results, a flushing program was started to purge the system Saturday morning as a precaution.