Sinkhole drains retention pond at factory farm
RORY SCHULER, Staff Writer, Lebanon Daily News, April 13, 2005

The state Department of Environmental Protection is investigating the possible contamination of groundwater in South Annville Township, where residents get their water from private wells, after a sinkhole drained a retention pond at a poultry farm.

"Two million gallons of wash, probably high in bacteria and nitrogen, (funneled) through a 4-by-4 (feet) hole that just opened up like a bathtub drain," said Sandy Roderick, community relations coordinator for DEP's southcentral region. "It's definitely not what we would want in the groundwater."

Yesterday's accident occurred in a pond on the property of the Noah Kreider & Sons Farms Inc. egg operation at 1486 Mt. Pleasant Road. The factory farm did not have a permit for the unlined pond, DEP officials said.

Roderick said that an independently contracted consultant, working with Kreider to get the pond state-certified, reported the incident to DEP between 8 and 9 a.m.

"The retention pond has been there less than a year," she explained. "The pond was installed without a permit and without a liner. We were working with them to get it lined. Typically, what we do is try to fix the situation by getting them to get the pond lined (to prevent an accident). But now it's too late."

Roderick said that the egg operation, owned and operated by the Manheim-based Kreider & Sons, will have to consider a method other than a holding pond, possibly holding tanks, for future egg-wash storage.

She said that penalties, in the form of fines and citations from the DEP, could be levied upon the completion of an investigation.

DEP officials decided not to instruct Kreider Farms to do anything at the site, which is about a mile north of Route 322, until the situation can be assessed, Roderick said.

But heavy equipment could be seen late into the afternoon yesterday, moving soil in the area of the pond.

"If they're filling it in, that may not be a bad thing," Roderick said.

Roderick described the contents of the pond as "the water they use to wash the eggs."

"Because of how eggs are laid, they have bacteria on them," she explained. "The possible green color people may see is from the detergent they use."

Most manure at the farm is shipped off-site in large, tarp-covered trucks that can be seen exiting the plant at regular intervals.

Today, DEP technicians will test local wells, springs and streams for possible pollution.

Residents have been warned to monitor their wells.

The Lebanon County Emergency Management Agency circulated a bulletin yesterday.

"The egg-wash water is high in nitrates and bacteria and has the potential to enter into surrounding wells, posing a risk to the community," stated the bulletin issued by county administrator Jamie Wolgemuth. "The Pennsylvania DEP is advising that pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants under six months of age avoid drinking their water if any of the indicators are present."

Wolgemuth said that contaminated well water may appear green or reddish in color and have a bad taste or sewage-like odor. Any residents who have a problem with their drinking water should contact the DEP's Harrisburg office at 717-705-4700.

"The good news is that the washwater is organic and will eventually break down," Roderick said. "Long-term environmental impact is not a concern."

Residents with bacteria-treatment controls installed on their wells are at less risk than those without the device.

Although DEP officials said that contaminated water would be noticeable by taste or color, Roderick said it is possible that the water could present itself in an odorless, colorless form.

"Bacteria could cause stomach distress," she said. "Anything else would be more of a long-term impact, mostly in pregnant women. Nitrates affect the flow of oxygen in blood to the fetus.

"We don't want anyone to panic at this point," Roderick added. "Given the limestone geology, it's possible no one will be impacted at all."

Kreider Farms officials could not be reached yesterday for comment.

"We had calls in to them today, too," Roderick said. "And we haven't heard back."