On Jan. 13, a group of West Penn Township residents filed a lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County against businesses and people associated with water extraction operations in the township.

The lawsuit was filed by 30 plaintiffs who live near a pair of water extraction sites, according to their attorney, John Kotsatos, of the Law Offices of John E. Kotsatos in Easton.At the center of the lawsuit is the water extraction site at the intersection of Kepners Road and Blue Mountain Drive, and a newer water extraction site being erected at 1 Fort Franklin Road.Defendant entities include MC Resource Development Co., 1390 LeBoutillier Road, Malvern, Chester County; Ringgold Acquisition Group LLC, 10447 Drummond Road, Philadelphia; Ringgold Acquisition Group 2 LLC, Philadelphia; Snow Green Acres LTD, New Ringgold; James J. Land Jr., Bluebell, Montgomery County; Larry C. Hower, New Ringgold; and David W. Knoedler, New Tripoli.Kotsatos said the judge assigned to review the complaint had issued an order asking them to individualize and file the complaints by residents by June 18.Land owns a company that is a partner in MC Resource Development, the existing water extraction operation in neighboring East Brunswick Township, and is president and owner of Ringgold Acquisition Group II LLC, at the proposed West Penn site on One Fort Franklin Road.Ringgold Acquisition Group has been registered since Nov. 21, 2014, with the Pennsylvania Department of State, and is located at the residence of James Land, 251 Brandon Court, Blue Bell.Land said the East Brunswick Township site, under the name MC Resource Development Co., has been in operation since around 2002.