Testing found that water in the plant was high in E. coli, fecal coliform and other bacteria.
The Reading Area Water Authority cut off service Wednesday to the United Corrstack LLC cardboard plant after water testing in the plant was high in E. coli, fecal coliform and other bacteria.
RAWA routinely tests water samples from throughout the system and was taking samples in south Reading when it found high bacteria levels at the plant Sept. 20, Executive Director Bill Murray said Wednesday afternoon.
Of those, water samples from an upstairs break room showed the presence of E. coli and other bacteria, according to copies of the testing requested by the Reading Eagle.
"Based on laboratory testing, (RAWA) believes that the water service at your property violates RAWA and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations in that the water service supplied by RAWA has been connected with water from a well or other source of water not belonging to RAWA," Murray wrote in a shut-off notice presented to Corrstack.
Art McLaughlin, Corrstack plant general manager, confirmed that RAWA had cut off the plant’s potable water supply until it can be determined what is causing the contamination.
There is a well the company is allowed to use only for its production of cardboard boxes and other containers.
"They think we might have a cross-tie between our water and the city’s potable water," McLaughlin said.
"I’m not going to risk the safety of our customers on a back-flow valve," Murray said when contacted about the shut-off.
Water service will not be restored until the cross-connection to the well has been terminated and DEP has given its approval to the restoration of water service, the shut-off letter read.