Water extraction wells are breaking a township ordinance, West Penn Township supervisors were told on Monday.

A crowd of over 50 attended the meeting held at the West Penn Fire Company, many of whom pleaded with the board to shut down water extraction.Bill Anders, the township's zoning officer, said they were notified on Oct. 13 that water hauling was starting to become more of an activity, and vehicles were being hauled to another site.On Oct. 30, they were notified by supervisors that one of the residents had mud-laden water.Anders said the Department of Environmental Protection, Delaware River Basin Commission, Department of Agriculture, and state Sen. David Argall were all contacted, and said all of those entities are looking into the matter to make sure proper permits are in place.Joe Courtney, president of the Retreat Village Homeowners Association, said that water extraction should only be used for irrigation purposes."Now that water's being transported to Niagara to be bottled, and that's not irrigation," Courtney said.Courtney asked if a land development plan has been filed, to which Supervisor Tony Prudenti said, "not at this point."Board Chairman Jim Dean said that due to possible litigation, the township's board of supervisors have been advised by counsel not to comment on the matter.Resident Larry Stival asked if it's in complete compliance with the township ordinance."He's not submitted a land development plan to date," Prudenti said. "We don't know if he's in compliance."Resident Mary Rockman asked whether the township was still in a drought condition, and wanted to know why the township couldn't order a cease and desist to stop them from draining water."Who's going to supply the water we drink?" Rockman asked.Amy Hehn said she has lived in the township for 15 years, and never had problems with her water until recently."Never before this operation have I had a problem," said Hehn, who added her water turned a muddy-brown color.Hehn said she wants to make sure her family has clean drinking water and safe roads.Following more public comment, Prudenti said, "There are things that are going on that I wish I could tell you."Supervisors said they would need to determine the legality before they can take any action.In June, supervisors on a 2-1 vote, accepted a $6,000 donation from MC Resource Development, the existing water extraction operation in neighboring East Brunswick Township.The matter came to light after township solicitor Holly Heintzelman said she received a letter dated May 31 signed by Jay Land, president and owner of Ringgold Acquisition Group II LLC, at the proposed West Penn site on 1 Fort Franklin Road.In the letter, Land said the check and donation was from MC Resource Development, and not himself, and that it is the result of a promise made to the township roadmaster in 2015. He said that MC Resource Development made a similar donation at that time.Land said the donation is made to the general road fund, and should be used at the discretion of the roadmaster as directed by the board of supervisors. However, there is no requirement that it be used on Kepners Road.On Jan. 13, a group of 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.