McKean County woman contends with flammable water
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CYCLONE, PA (WIVB) -- Helen Dragonette moved to Cyclone, PA in McKean County a little more than two years ago. She says her water nightmare began about one year in.
Dragonette says the stress of the past two years has been crushing as flammable water flows through her home.
In September of last year, she knew there was a problem.
"9:30, boom!," said Dragonette. "I've never shot Tannerite, I've heard it shot. It was like someone shot Tannerite in the backyard."
Dragonette looked out her back window and saw flames around her water well pump house. She told WIVB News 4 on Thursday that the cause was initially thought to be electrical until it happened again about a month later.
That's when Dragonette called in a water treatment company.
"A week or so later, put water in a jug from the faucet, put the top on, shook it up and woosh," Dragonette said.
Dragonette and her lawyer filed a notice of appeal with the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board in search of answers. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection determined there are high levels of dissolved methane in her water supply.
"We're supposed to have clean air and water," Dragonette said. "And we don't. Why?"
On Friday, a DEP spokesperson shared this statement, "DEP determined that Ms. Dragonette's water well, which was a previously plugged oil and gas well, was the source of the methane in her water. Ms. Dragonette has appealed the DEP determination to the Environmental Hearing Board and as such, the DEP can’t comment further on this active litigation."
A DEP letter to Dragonette on Aug. 12 also cited the proximity of Helen's water well to historically mapped oil and gas wells:
"Based on the high levels of dissolved methane present in the water samples, the size of the casing of the water well, the close proximity of the water well to historically mapped oil and gas wells, the isotopic results indicating the dissolved gas present in the water supply is similar to upper Devonian gas."
"July they said they would plug this well, hook up a water buffalo until a new well is drilled and they're going to take care of the cost," said Dragonette.
Dragonette said she was thrilled, but she said it's still not known when that work will get underway. In the meantime, she's relying on bottled water to cook with and drink, but still bathes and does laundry with the well water.
"It's on my skin," Dragonette said. "It's in my bloodstream, what is it doing to me? I don't know."
Patrick Ryan is an award-winning reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2020. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.