High lead levels found in parts of Blue Hole Creek
Recent water testing by the Mountain Watershed Association has revealed that Blue Hole Creek, which runs through Forbes State Forest in Saltlick Township, has a lot of lead in the water.
"First round of sampling was 370 ug/l (micrograms per liter) of water," said Eric Harder, a Youghiogheny riverkeeper with the Mountain Watershed Association. "In the drinking water world, you use parts per billion. If people were to have that in their drinking water or lead in their drinking water over one part per billion, the EPA says that's intentionally harmful to your health. And in this situation, leaves were at 370 ppb."
To put that 370 ppb number into perspective, Flint, Michigan's water had just 12 ppb at its worst.
Normally, this creek is considered an exceptional value waterway, a designation reserved for streams that have the best water quality, but now the water keepers and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources say that the public needs to know the danger this water poses.
"At this time, our recommendation is to avoid using that stream for consumption of fish," said Harder. "Avoid drinking (the water) and even be wary of jumping in and using it as a swimming hole."
Right now, the Mountain Watershed Association and the DCNR are working to find the source of this pollution and bring it under control.
The hope is that soon there will be signs posted around the stream to alert people that the water is contaminated.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Westmoreland County caretaker accused of knocking elderly stroke survivor out of wheelchair
A Westmoreland County woman called 911 for help after alleging that her caretaker knocked her out of her wheelchair. That caretaker, Nicole Crusan, is now facing multiple charges, including felony assault. The victim was a 71-year-old stroke survivor who called police on Monday and claimed that Crusan pulled her out of her wheelchair and began to drag her around by her hair. According to doctors, the incident left the victim with bruising and a head injury. Crusan is employed by a homecare company called Care Sphere. We have reached out to the company for comment and will have more on this story on KDKA-TV News at 4, 5, and 6:00.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Patty Gatter of The Breastfeeding Shop Shares Expertise On Insurance-Covered Breast Pumps for Expectant Mothers in HelloNation Magazine
EMMAUS, Pa., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Are breast pumps covered by insurance, and what should new mothers know about the process? Patty Gatter of The Breastfeeding Shop in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, offers guidance in HelloNation Magazine, helping expecting mothers understand how to access this important benefit with confidence and ease. According to Gatter, most health insurance plans are now required to cover the cost of a breast pump under the Affordable Care Act. However, coverage details can vary—some plans may only include specific models or brands, while others might require a prescription or supporting documentation from a healthcare provider. To avoid delays, expecting mothers should contact their insurance carrier early in the process to confirm what is included under their plan. Gatter emphasizes the value of working with a supplier that handles insurance verification and simplifies selection. Trusted providers can help navigate eligibility, offer guidance on pump options, and ensure fast delivery. Choosing a supplier that provides responsive customer support and replacement parts when needed adds to a seamless and supportive experience. Access to an insurance-covered breast pump isn't just about convenience—it promotes healthy feeding routines, supports milk production, and helps new mothers transition back to work or daily responsibilities with greater flexibility. For families in the Emmaus area and beyond, understanding how to get a free breast pump through insurance removes one more stressor from an already busy and transformative time. To learn more, read the full article, What Expecting Mothers Should Know About Insurance-Covered Breast Pumps, in HelloNation Magazine. About HelloNationHelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative 'edvertising' approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. Staff Writerinfo@ photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
7 hours ago
- CBS News
Wildfire smoke continues into the Pittsburgh region along with multiple storm chances
Thursday begins on a very warm and smoky note across most of Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia. Wildfire smoke and haze have mixed down to this surface, resulting in code yellow to code orange air quality, meaning that the condition of the air is unhealthy for those with any underlying health conditions. WEATHER LINKS: Current Conditions | School Closings & Delays | Submit Your Weather Photos This wildfire smoke and haze will continue to be in place across our area through 2-3 p.m. this afternoon before thunderstorms develop. The outflow winds from these thunderstorms should finally help to stir up the atmosphere a bit and mix out the smoke. Severe weather chances over the next three days KDKA Weather Center Ahead of the storms, high temperatures will easily reach the low to mid-80s, which is a few degrees above normal for this time of year. Speaking of storms, the SPC has most of our area in a level 1 out of 5 severe risk for today and tomorrow. Storms should form in the increasingly moist air ahead of a cold front and a weak disturbance moving in from the northwest. We should see development around 3 p.m. Thursday, with the highest coverage generally in our northwest zones, although some models suggest there could be simultaneous development in the Laurel Highlands and Ridges as well. Initially, coverage will be isolated, but as storm tops collapse and weaken, this may spawn new development in different areas. Low temperatures and rain chances on Thursday evening KDKA Weather Center Storm coverage should diminish after 8-9 p.m. with only scattered showers overnight, but another disturbance moving in during the mid-morning hours of Friday will likely re-ignite storms during the midday and afternoon hours. There will not be a ton of wind shear today and tomorrow, so these will be more pulse-like, disorganized storms with a localized "microburst" wind threat along with hail. Winds could gust upwards of 60-70mph in isolated spots along with pea to quarter-sized hail. Rain chances over the next week KDKA Weather Center The cold front will eventually sag south into the region by early Saturday with a chance of early morning showers. Most of Saturday into Saturday night is trending drier as we will be in between systems. On Sunday, moisture will return north ahead of a strong low system and cold front poised to arrive on Monday. We could see storm chances increase as early as Sunday afternoon, with the higher chances moving in on Monday. This system will have much stronger winds aloft accompanied by sufficient moisture and some instability, so we will need to keep an eye on the severe weather threat with next Monday's system. Lingering showers and storms will continue on Tuesday, before a cold front moves in, resulting in drier conditions by the following Wednesday. 7-day forecast: June 5, 2025 KDKA Weather Center Stay up to date with the KDKA Mobile App – which you can download here!
