Natural Gas Companies Asked To Stop Bringing Waste Water to Pa. Treatment Plants

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - Pennsylvania environmental regulators are now asking natural gas drilling companies to stop taking wastewater to 15 water treatment plants, mostly in the western part of the state.

Spokeswoman Katie Gresh says the Department of Environmental Protection is asking natural gas drillers to stop deliveries to the 15 remaining facilities that still accept wastewater from natural gas extraction by May 19th.

"These companies are grandfathered under previous regulations that do not treat the wastewater to the stringent requirements that it needs to be treated. And we are asking these operators to stop delivering it there."

The appeal comes after recent tests of western Pennsylvania waterways found elevated levels of bromide, which combines with chlorine during water treatment and forms potentially unsafe compounds.

The DEP appeal came on the same day a gas drilling industry group said it has concluded its operations do contribute to higher levels of bromide in western Pennsylvania water.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio