SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. — UPDATE: Ashland Borough officials say they are working with the Department of Environmental Protection to address the issue with the water. A meeting at the Borough building on 6:30pm on Monday will give residents the opportunity to hear more about what is being done.
Original story:
“I have kids to worry about five of them and they don't want to drink that they don't want their food boiled in it and it stains there clothes”. Said Stephanie Lesko.
For Lesko the orange color of her tap water has been a part of her everyday life for about a year.
In a video Lesko posted to YouTube, she says it shows why she and her neighbors in Ashland have been forced to boil their tap water.
“It's really hard to give the kids tubs at night and I know it's OK because I boil it but they won't get in it and it does stink really bad.” She said.
“Am I going to have clean laundry? Is it going to be dirty? If it's ruined whose going to replace this. I mean this is a serious serious issue that needs to be addressed.” Said Michael Walnock.
Walnock has been helping renovate this home along Walnut Street says over the last 10 days, and says people have been getting sick, houses have been left smelling of sulfur and people’s right to clean, drinking water has been taken away.
“It's an absolute necessity not only for drinking, doing dishes, bathing, watering plants people have gardens answer to everything necessity you must have it.” He said.
Newswatch 16 reached out to Borough officials, but we have not yet heard back.
Residents agree something needs to be done, and soon.
“Find the root of the problem, whether you got to shut the water system down for a day or two to correct this issue. Is there a filtration problem? Is there a busted pipe? We don't know but it's got to be a solution and it has to be fixed. This is what we pay for it and we're still getting charged every day.” Said Walnock.
Residents told Newswatch 16 that the will be a Borough meeting being held on August 28 at 6:30pm where people plan voice their concerns about the water issues.