FROM CBS 21 Maxine Rose
Wed, July 2nd 2025 at 10:16 PM
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Crews from the Veolia Water company responded to a water main break in a Dauphin County neighborhood early Wednesday morning.
The company states that only four customers in the cul-de-sac off Wandering Way in Susquehanna Township were affected.
However, many more customers have long reported experiencing issues with Veolia Water.
For more than a week, customers in Marysville, Lower Paxton, and Susquehanna Township have been told by Veolia Water that discolored water issues have been caused by a water pressure drop at their Sixth Street plant, the use of a hydrant — and now the water main break.
One neighbor said that her husband woke up to a disaster outside their home around 4:30 a.m.
"[He] saw water bubbling up from the street in a few different places, and it worried him. He did call authorities to alert them of the issue," said Patty Benedict, a Susquehanna Township Veolia customer.
Benedict said neither she nor her husband ever received notice from Veolia Water Company about what was happening outside her home.
In fact, neighbors also said it took a little digging to find out.
"My daughter, she wake up. She said, 'Mommy, something is wrong to our toilet," said Bhakti Neopaney, a neighbor of the Benedicts. "I was like, 'Oh my god,' something is wrong with our house."
Neopaney said she went outside to find out that neighbors were having the same problem.
Off and on discolored water might be an issue that is new to some, but not others.
"I know things happen and that is understandable. However, I've had experience with brown water now, for, I would say, at least a week, week and a half," Benedict said. "I'm just hoping the water is safe to drink because I've been using it. I haven't been boiling anything."
Veolia Water reiterated that their testing has found the water is safe for use, though the ongoing issues and murky waters have only created more doubt from customers in the Lower Paxton, Susquehanna and Marysville areas.
READ MORE | Veolia customers frustrated as discolored water persists despite days of system flushing
The company's Regional President of the Mid Atlantic Division, Larry Finnicum, issued the following statement:
Veolia's maintenance teams are actively flushing the water system to resolve the discolored water issue affecting Susquehanna Township and Lower Paxton Township. While the water may be discolored, our regular testing confirms it remains safe for use with all samples testing negative for bacteria. We are working diligently to resolve this issue and encourage customers to contact our customer service team at 888-299-8972 with any concerns. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your patience as we work to restore normal water conditions.
"I just keep thinking it's a minor issue, like I keep thinking, 'Ok, you know, it's going to go away," said Benedict.
Customers are being asked to run their own faucets until they run clear.
Some customers reported receiving up to 1,000 gallons in flushing credit.
However, according to Veolia's rates, that equates to only $11.61.
Veolia stated that the amount of credit customers receive is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Veolia Water said it is continuing to flush through Lower Paxton Township to address the discolored water calls that have been reported to our Customer Service team.
The Department of Environmental Protection also issued a statement:
DEP has been in regular contact with Veolia over the dirty water complaints. Specifically, Veolia has been sharing its response activities to the complaints, and the results of its investigation into the underlying causes, with the Department. Data available to the Department indicates that Veolia’s public water system is in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water regulations. The discoloration in the water appears to be an aesthetic issue. Veolia has been collecting bacteriological samples at multiple points within its distribution system and has been implementing a flushing effort in an attempt to address the discolored water.