Diesel leak concerns shut down North Coventry gas station

A North Coventry Township gas station was ordered closed Thursday because of concerns that a diesel leak has contaminated area wells.

The state Department of Environmental Protection ordered Coventry Mart, at 1453 S. Hanover St., to shut off its pumps until further notice and empty its three diesel tanks, one of which appeared to be leaking into a shared well.

The DEP reported in March that fuel from the facility had seeped into a storm-water basin and a tributary of Pigeon Creek in the northern Chester County township.

A spokeswoman for the DEP's southwest regional office, Lynda Rebarchak, said that the agency had worked with the station to find the source of the leak, and that the station had submitted an incomplete report last month.

The manager of Diane's Discount Pets, across Route 100 from Coventry Mart's Hess station, called the DEP Tuesday to report that the store's tap water was contaminated.

"One of my employees took a drink of water, and it burned her mouth," Terry DeFelice said. "When you turn on the spigot, you can smell the gasoline."

The DEP took samples from the well. Rebarchak said that no injuries had been reported, and that the pet store was using bottled water, provided by Hess, to clean and fill water bowls for the animals.

"It's a pain in the neck," DeFelice said. "Not only is it an inconvenience, it's the welfare of the animals, too."

Coventry Mart officials could not be reached for comment.