The 40,000-gallon capacity water storage tank serving consumers in the higher elevations of Coaldale burst and toppled sometime during the night, according to Harry Vadyak of Lansford, chairman of the Lansford-Coaldale Joint Water Authority. Just what caused the damage has not been determined, however he said there is a possibility the tank was struck by lightning. “Or,” he said, “it could be just old age.”

The contents of the tank were lost and it is out of service. Alterations in the system were made by the authority’s maintenance crews early today whereby 40 residential and commercial customers are receiving water directly from the pipeline.