Pocono News Section

Dimock Township Families Sue Gas Driller Over Water Problems

Dimock Township Families Sue Gas Driller Over Water Problems - Friday, November 20, 2009 at 5:09PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Friday, Nov 20, 2009 @ 05:09pm EST
DIMOCK TOWNSHIP, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY - Families in one part of Susquehanna County say they're living a nightmare. They say their water is bad and they're also battling health problems because of natural gas drilling.

Late Thursday afternoon, 15 families who live in Dimock Township filed a civil lawsuit. They charge Cabot Oil & Gas polluted their water wells. Homeowners say the lawsuit was their last option. Cabot Oil & Gas is one of the country's biggest natural gas drilling companies.

"I am so tired of calling DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) and Cabot. I get nowhere with Cabot," plantiff and homeowner Pat Farnelli said.

Farnelli says her well water is now polluted because of work going on across from her home. Farnelli and her neighbors all signed gas leases not expecting problems.

"My daughter and I both threw up everytime we drank it and in fact it affected her more. She's got an ulser. She's 14," Farnelli said.

At a press conference Friday morning, each family told about similiar health problems and quality of life problems. Some say they aren't even able to do laundry.

"Our clothes would stink. I mean, we'd go to my daughter's house and she'd say 'what's wrong with your clothes?' Even your skin would smell," plantiff and homeowner Craig Sautner said.

"When they came in we did not ask for the water problems and what we got," plantiff and homeowner Julie Sautner said.

State officials recently fined Cabot Oil & Gas for causing several recent spills. Homeowners claim three were in one week. Earlier this month, Cabot issued a statement saying they were taking steps to prevent future problems.

"My wife and kids moved out. They do not want to live down there," plantiff and homeowner Michael Ely said.

Cabot has helped some homeowners with water filtration and purification systems. Others, like Ronald Carter, installed their own.

"It cost me $7,000 and that's a lot of money for a man and woman on fixed incomes," Carter said.

Eyewitness News spoke with a Cabot Oil & Gas representative by phone Friday afternoon. He says the company is still reviewing the complaint but insists the company is disappointed. He says he sees no merit in the claims of the homeowners.