The process of water traveling from above ground to below ground and beyond is a slow one, according to Patrick Burkhart, a geology professor at Slippery Rock University.

Because of this, residents with private wells are drinking water that’s months old every time they turn on their faucet.

“There’s months of lag time,” he said. “It’s unlikely you’re getting any recent rainwater.”

As government officials secure water-quality tests for Pennsylvania residents concerned about the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment affecting their private water supply, local scientists and environmental agencies assure them there is nothing to worry about.

“I don’t blame (residents) for being concerned, but it’s unlikely they’ll have a problem,” Burkhart said.

Burkhart is a hydrogeologist, someone who studies water in the earth. He said frequent water testing is common for municipal authorities, but with a significant chemical event such as the derailment, he’s sure people with private water access, such as wells, are concerned.

“If (people) are downstream of creeks near that fire entering the Ohio (River), I’d share their concern,” he said. “There’s a lengthy array of testing. These organic chemicals are not part of the routine testing. I’m sure they’re ordering extra tests for organic compounds.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took charge of the cleanup from the Feb. 3 crash and said it has been conducting air and water quality monitoring since the controlled vent and burn of vinyl chloride.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said during a Tuesday news conference in Ohio that the Pennsylvania border is being closely monitored. In addition, officials in areas concerned about pollution, such as Cranberry Township, have said drinking water has remained protected.

According to Amy Marree, emergency management planner for Butler County, the Department of Emergency Services has not received any calls or concerns from people regarding well water contamination.

In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said on its website that there are no known concerns for air or water quality for Pennsylvania residents near the derailment site.

For those curious about how well water could be affected by such an event, Burkhart provided an explanation as to how water travels into the ground.

“When most people pump drinking water from their yard, that water was recharged many months ago. It’s not like when water comes from the sink it came out the sky yesterday,” he said.

He said weather conditions at the time of the derailment could have contributed to toxicity in the water supply. Had the toxic smoke cloud entered a wet atmosphere with rain clouds, there would be more concern.

“We’re lucky in terms of weather,” he said.

Since water takes months to travel underground, chemicals that it carries are broken down. Burkhart said he believes the EPA will test for any toxic concentration in water down the line.

“Those chemicals are oxidizing in the atmosphere. They’re chemically degrading ... just because some soot lands on a yard doesn’t mean it could end up in your yard,” he said. “The question is what could be in (the water) and what would it do. The answer to that is how close are they to this monster?”

Burkhart reiterated that he feels for people in proximity to the derailment, but that Butler County residents don’t have to worry.

“It’s highly unlikely that anyone’s well right now has anything from that event,” he said.

The state DEP stated on its website that no long-term impacts to Pennsylvania’s surface water is expected from the derailment.

"A basic groundwater evaluation shows that groundwater near the derailment site flows westward and would not carry any possible contaminants from the site towards groundwater wells in Pennsylvania. The geology of the area, which includes subsurface sandstone layers below the soil, would likely slow the spread of any surface contamination to the groundwater below, which is why testing will continue for at least six months,“ the statement said.

Concerned residents who are beyond the two-mile radius may contact DEP to request testing at 412-442-4000.

Cranberry Township posted a notice Feb. 14 assuring residents that their water is safe to use following the derailment.

According to the notice, Cranberry Township and its water provider, West View Water Authority, are closely monitoring the situation and “will take any necessary steps to ensure the safety of the township’s water.”

The township’s supply comes from the Ohio River upstream from the derailment, which was about 33 miles away.

Pennsylvania American Water says it does not receive water from the Ohio River to serve its communities.

"Conditions in the Ohio River have not impacted the water quality of these sources of supply following a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this month. Again, water sources that serve our Western Pennsylvania customers are separate from the Ohio River,“ the company's website said.

It added in a statement it they would provide residents with any further developments.

The state DEP said via its website that it is contacting residents within a two-mile radius of the derailment site for water testing. They are sampling private drinking water wells in Ellwood City and Beaver Falls.

"Once samples are collected, the DEP Bureau of Labs analyzes them to determine whether chemicals from the train cars are present: vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol, butyl acrylates, ethylhexyl acrylate, benzene, and ethanol,“ the website said.

Lab results will be posted on the website, and samples will be taken monthly for at least six months and up to a year to watch for any long-term impact to water, officials added.