Uploaded December 2011 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A few residents in Susquehanna County find themselves in the middle of what is becoming a national controversy.
A natural gas company that is drilling in the area had been supplying the homes with fresh drinking water, but the company has stopped, saying the community's well water is safe.
So many people disagree, however, that fresh water supplies are now starting to come in from some unlikely sources.
A water truck from the city of Binghamton, New York showed up on Carter Road in Dimock Monday to deliver water.
The mayor of Binghamton heard about Cabot Oil and Gas stopping water deliveries and said he wanted to help, and that's not the only out-of-stater getting involved in this situation.
It's certainly not the Binghamton city streets this crew is used to. A water truck from the city 33 miles to the north was making its way from home to home along Carter Road near Dimock delivering water.
That is what Cabot Oil and Gas was doing up until last Wednesday when the the state DEP said it no longer had to deliver water to residents on the road.
"I used what we had sparingly. We're just at the bottom now. If it didn't come today, I was out of water," said Carter Road resident Ray Hubert.
Binghamton's mayor, an environmental lawyer, said this is just one community helping a neighbor, but Carter Road has become a national symbol for environmental groups.
People there have been in a dispute with Cabot for three years. They said drilling contaminated their wells. Cabot said it didn't.
Cabot said it has done the work to make well water there safe.
"DEP doesn't want a drink, EPA doesn't want a drink. Nobody wants a drink of it but they say I can. How's that make sense, huh?" Hubert asked.
Other municipalities in New York state also said they are considering sending water trucks to Dimock. There are environmental groups lining up too, to help the people there get their water.
"No doubt the people up there treat us better than my own neighbors, that's sad to say," said Carter Road resident Craig Sautner.
The water truck came to the Sautner's house too.
Another one is coming Tuesday. Celebrities and politicians are sending that one from New York City. The Sautners are heading to be part of that media event in the Big Apple.
Right now, New York state is considering lifting a ban on gas drilling.
"The New Yorkers, they haven't had any problems yet. They realize what's going on here. They come down and want to help us. We appreciate it," said Julie Sautner.
The Sierra Club paid for Binghamton's water delivery Monday to avoid any legal obstacles involved in one municipality delivering water to another.
Some Carter Road residents think Dimock Township supervisors tried to obstruct that. Supervisors said they did not.
At a packed meeting Monday night, the township supervisors voted unanimously to not request mutual aid for water delivery.
Most people who spoke at the meeting were against having water delivered from other municipalities.
"'It has nothing to do with us, we all have private wells in Dimock Township and we have nothing to do with where they get their water delivered. We all pay our taxes," said Lettie Ellis of DImock Township.
The mayor of Binghamton was at the township meeting.
After the meeting, he promised some residents to continue trying to help. The entire list of Pennsylvania water contaminations from fracking. files.dep.state.pa.us/OilGas/BOGM/BOGMPortalFiles/OilGasReports/Determination_Letters/Regional_Determination_Letters.pdf
A few residents in Susquehanna County find themselves in the middle of what is becoming a national controversy.
A natural gas company that is drilling in the area had been supplying the homes with fresh drinking water, but the company has stopped, saying the community's well water is safe.
So many people disagree, however, that fresh water supplies are now starting to come in from some unlikely sources.
A water truck from the city of Binghamton, New York showed up on Carter Road in Dimock Monday to deliver water.
The mayor of Binghamton heard about Cabot Oil and Gas stopping water deliveries and said he wanted to help, and that's not the only out-of-stater getting involved in this situation.
It's certainly not the Binghamton city streets this crew is used to. A water truck from the city 33 miles to the north was making its way from home to home along Carter Road near Dimock delivering water.
That is what Cabot Oil and Gas was doing up until last Wednesday when the the state DEP said it no longer had to deliver water to residents on the road.
"I used what we had sparingly. We're just at the bottom now. If it didn't come today, I was out of water," said Carter Road resident Ray Hubert.
Binghamton's mayor, an environmental lawyer, said this is just one community helping a neighbor, but Carter Road has become a national symbol for environmental groups.
People there have been in a dispute with Cabot for three years. They said drilling contaminated their wells. Cabot said it didn't.
Cabot said it has done the work to make well water there safe.
"DEP doesn't want a drink, EPA doesn't want a drink. Nobody wants a drink of it but they say I can. How's that make sense, huh?" Hubert asked.
Other municipalities in New York state also said they are considering sending water trucks to Dimock. There are environmental groups lining up too, to help the people there get their water.
"No doubt the people up there treat us better than my own neighbors, that's sad to say," said Carter Road resident Craig Sautner.
The water truck came to the Sautner's house too.
Another one is coming Tuesday. Celebrities and politicians are sending that one from New York City. The Sautners are heading to be part of that media event in the Big Apple.
Right now, New York state is considering lifting a ban on gas drilling.
"The New Yorkers, they haven't had any problems yet. They realize what's going on here. They come down and want to help us. We appreciate it," said Julie Sautner.
The Sierra Club paid for Binghamton's water delivery Monday to avoid any legal obstacles involved in one municipality delivering water to another.
Some Carter Road residents think Dimock Township supervisors tried to obstruct that. Supervisors said they did not.
At a packed meeting Monday night, the township supervisors voted unanimously to not request mutual aid for water delivery.
Most people who spoke at the meeting were against having water delivered from other municipalities.
"'It has nothing to do with us, we all have private wells in Dimock Township and we have nothing to do with where they get their water delivered. We all pay our taxes," said Lettie Ellis of DImock Township.
The mayor of Binghamton was at the township meeting.
After the meeting, he promised some residents to continue trying to help. The entire list of Pennsylvania water contaminations from fracking. files.dep.state.pa.us/OilGas/BOGM/BOGMPortalFiles/OilGasReports/Determination_Letters/Regional_Determination_Letters.pdf
