TIDIOUTE — Residents served by the Southwest Warren County Municipal Authority (SWCMA) will remain under a boil water advisory for at least another month as state environmental officials say the authority’s water treatment plant has not yet returned to acceptable operating levels.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) confirmed the advisory has been extended because the treatment plant continues to experience filtration problems despite ongoing maintenance and repairs.

“Treatment plant performance has not returned to acceptable levels, despite the actions that have been taken to address filtration issues,” said Tom Decker, regional communications manager for the DEP. “The situation requires additional time for filter rehabilitation and operational maintenance activities.”

The boil water advisory has now been in place since March 18, affecting residents of Tidioute for more than three months.

The advisory stems from elevated turbidity, or cloudiness, in the drinking water caused by filtration issues at the treatment plant. High turbidity itself does not cause illness but can reduce the effectiveness of disinfection, increasing the possibility that bacteria, viruses and parasites remain in the water supply.

According to the authority, filtered water turbidity remains above 4.0 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), more than double the regulatory limit of 2.0 NTU. Because of those readings, the boil water advisory will remain in effect until the system consistently meets all state drinking water requirements.

Residents are still advised to boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes.

As questions continue about the aging treatment system, DEP officials confirmed they are beginning discussions about the long-term viability of Tidioute’s water supply.

Decker said the department has a meeting scheduled today with SWCMA’s engineering consultant to discuss future options.

“The DEP has a call scheduled with SWCMA’s engineering consultant next week to discuss the long-term viability of the system,” Decker said. “Options, including the development of a new source, will be discussed.”

The authority also announced it is working with DEP to evaluate drilling groundwater wells as an additional drinking water source. Officials described the project as a potential long-term solution to strengthen the community’s water supply and improve overall system reliability.

The discussions come amid growing concerns from residents regarding the age of the Tidioute water treatment plant and whether continued rehabilitation is the best long-term solution.

During a recent joint meeting between Tidioute Borough Council and the Southwest Warren County Municipal Authority, consulting engineer Tobias Nagle of Stiffler McGraw reviewed the condition of the system and the corrective work underway.

Authority officials said Filter Bays 1 and 2 have been taken offline for inspection and rehabilitation. A full assessment determined that the filter media in Bay 1 will need to be completely replaced after inspections and testing found it was no longer performing adequately. Bay 2 underwent standard maintenance that included scraping and removing the top layer of filter media.

Officials said each filter bay requires several weeks to return to service because water must be filtered to waste while the units stabilize after maintenance. Work will continue on Filter Bays 3 and 4 as the authority attempts to reduce turbidity throughout the system.

The authority is also planning to dredge the dam in hopes of improving raw water quality before it reaches the treatment plant.

Beyond treatment plant repairs, officials said crews have repaired numerous leaks throughout the distribution system, reducing overall water demand and improving system efficiency. The authority said it will continue searching for additional leaks as they are identified.

Officials said the municipal water storage tank is currently at or near full capacity, helping maintain adequate system pressure while treatment improvements continue. The authority also has an emergency water hauling permit valid through Nov. 1, 2026, which can be used if additional water is needed during ongoing operational challenges.

Meanwhile, residents remain under the boil water advisory with no firm timetable for when it will be lifted. While a previous notice issued June 15 indicated the authority anticipated resolving the issue by Aug. 1, officials now say they are unable to provide a timeline. The advisory will remain in effect until all applicable drinking water requirements are met and the system demonstrates consistent compliance with state standards.

The authority said it will continue issuing updated boil water notices every 30 days while the advisory remains in effect and pledged to provide additional updates as work progresses.

“The Southwest Warren County Municipal Authority recognizes the inconvenience the Boil Water Notice has caused its customers and appreciates the public’s patience, understanding, and cooperation during this process,” Borough Manager Amanda Mesel said in a press release.

The Tidioute Borough Council meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 129 Main Street at 7 p.m., while Southwest Warren County Municipal Authority meets on the second Thursday at the same location and time. Those looking for additional information can contact the Southwest Warren County Municipal Authority at 1-814-484-7424.