Speakers urge commissioners to restrict fracking water withdrawals from Beaver Run during droughts

Environmental and watershed advocates told the Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners on April 16 that industrial consumptive withdrawals—particularly for hydraulic fracturing—threaten the county's drinking-water supplies and local recreation economies.

"We are asking the Westmoreland County Commissioners to make every drop count by mandating a prohibition of water withdrawals for consumptive uses, like fracking, during periods of declared drought," said Gillian Graber of Trafford. Graber and others said MAWC had for years allowed industrial customers to withdraw large volumes from Beaver Run Reservoir at discounted rates and urged the commissioners to use their oversight authority to impose limits and require a long-term conservation plan.

Speakers cited recent data and enforcement history: a public commenter said that in 2024 fracking companies withdrew over 155 million gallons from local sources and that MAWC temporarily halted fracking withdrawals during a 2023 drought. Mountain Watershed Association representative Em Hoffman warned of lasting environmental harm because water used for fracking becomes contaminated and cannot be returned to drinking supply.

Advocates asked the board to push MAWC to (1) adopt an automatic moratorium on consumptive withdrawals when a drought watch or warning is declared, (2) develop and publish a long-term water conservation plan, and (3) consider revising rate structures so industrial consumptive users pay rates that reflect the full cost and scarcity of the resource.

The commissioners did not adopt a new ordinance or formal directive at the April 16 meeting; speakers requested the board take proactive action to protect reservoir supplies.