MILROY — The Mifflin County Municipal Authority issued a Do Not Drink Notice Saturday morning for all customers after a commercial truck overturned near the Laurel Creek Dam and released fuel, oil and other fluids into the reservoir, prompting concerns about possible contamination of the public water supply.

The advisory took effect at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the authority, which said the notice was being issued “out of an abundance of caution” following the April 17 accident at the Laurel Creek Dam/Reservoir.

While no contamination has been confirmed in treated water, the authority said the precaution is necessary because the system must resume drawing from the reservoir to meet demand.

Accident prompts emergency response

According to MCMA Executive Director Craig Bubb, the crash involved an overturned commercial truck that “resulted in a fuel, fluid, oil leak in the Laurel Creek Dam/Reservoir.” Emergency personnel and environmental officials responded Friday as containment and assessment efforts began.

Bubb said the situation was complicated by an unrelated electrical failure that occurred around the same time. An electrical transformer surge caused “a catastrophic loss to one of the primary alternate water sources,” leaving the system without a key backup supply.

Without that alternate source, the authority said it cannot maintain adequate water levels for all customers unless it resumes withdrawing water from the Laurel Creek Reservoir — the same reservoir affected by the spill.

The Laurel Creek Filtration Plant was scheduled to “resume water withdraw from the reservoir and treatment, and begin distributing to the system Saturday, April 18, 2026,” according to a press release issued on Saturday morning.

Precautionary advisory issued

The authority emphasized that no contamination has been detected in treated water but said the advisory is necessary to protect public health while testing is underway.

“While no contamination has been confirmed in the treated water at this time, this precautionary measure is necessary to protect public health and ensure system reliability,” Bubb said. “Emergency testing resources are being deployed to expedite water quality test results.”

The advisory instructs residents not to drink tap water under any circumstances until further notice.

Instructions for residents

The authority outlined clear steps for customers to follow:

• Use bottled water only for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and making ice.

• Do not boil tap water. “Boiling may not remove chemical contaminants,” the release said.

The advisory does not affect non consumption uses such as bathing, laundry or cleaning, though the authority recommends minimizing unnecessary water use until the system stabilizes.

Testing and mitigation underway

Bubb said its technical team is conducting “intensive water quality testing and monitoring” in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Samples are being collected from multiple points in the system, including raw water, treated water and distribution lines.

The authority said it is working to restore system reliability and evaluate the extent of the spill’s impact. Cleanup and containment efforts at the reservoir are ongoing.

Alternative water sources will be made available to residents, with times and locations to be announced at mifflincountyh2o.com.

Public updates expected

The authority said it will release additional information as soon as test results are available. A “Problem Corrected” notice will be issued once testing confirms the water is safe for all uses.

“We will provide updates as soon as more information is available,” Bubb said.

Residents seeking more information may visit mifflincountyh2o.com or email MCMA@mifflincountyh2o.com.