Last week West Chester resident Matt Herring shared pictures of a cloudy white substance floating on the surface of Plum Creek near West Chester University. ”It looks like soap or paint,” he said.

Since that initial discovery the Borough, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and West Chester University have all been out to investigate. Initially, they thought the contamination was coming from a WCU painting contractor who was rinsing his equipment into a storm drain – but he was cleared.

“A tracer dye test conducted on Friday, May 31, at the sink where it appears the painters washed their equipment was inconclusive since the dye did not discharge into the creek. That indicates that the painters were not responsible for the cloudy substance in the creek,” West Chester Deputy Public Relations Director Loretta MacAlpine shared in an email yesterday.

Still, he was told to stop, a win for groundwater. Unfortunately, the cause of this particular contamination remains unknown.

“The University’s Environmental Health and Safety staff are working with the DEP and Borough to try to determine the source and to monitor the connection to Plum Run. It’s a coordinated effort since there are many interconnecting pipes,” said Loretta.

While the issue has not been resolved, that it is being investigated at all is largely due to the efforts of Mr. Herring a fact acknowledged by the DEP.  “I was calling to thank you and let you know, largely in part of your efforts we were able to get responders into the area to investigate,” DEP rep Rex Miller said in a voicemail.  

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Originally published on June 7, 2024

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