CONNOQUENESSING TWP — The state Department of Environmental Protection is testing mine drainage released by gas drilling that caused a creek to turn orange and has affected the Harmony Borough Water Authority.

Gary Clark, a DEP spokesman, said XTO Energy was “air drilling,” where gases are used to drill more quickly, at a location off Whitestown Road on Wednesday when it drilled into the mine shaft, forcing drainage out.

He said there is a processing plant nearby to handle drainage from the mine, but he said there is too much fluid for it to handle.

“So it’s overflowing,” Clark said.

The drainage flowed into the Semiconan Run, which runs into the Connoquenessing Creek.

Steve Forde, an XTO spokesman, said company employees Wednesday spotted the water draining from the mine into an existing mine drainage pond and into the creek. He noted that XTO does not own the mine and is not involved in its drainage operations.

He said the drainage dissipated within a few hours and the company has been working with the DEP to see if any other action is needed.

Clark said that the Harmony Borough Water Authority, located downstream from the drainage, reported an elevated pH level. He said the plant is able to treat the water and that there is no danger. The plant is monitoring its pH, iron and manganese levels.

He said that DEP is trying to determine if the drainage is still flowing. He said about five wells were being drilled by XTO in the area, and once they are encased in cement, the flow should stop.

Clark said the best case scenario is that the drainage is dissipating and will continue to dissipate over the next couple days.

Rex Coen, who lives about a half mile away from the mine, said he noticed the drainage Wednesday morning, when his wife noted that the creek was discolored.

“It was bright orange,” Coen said.

He also said the flow of the creek was high, about three times what it normally would be.

He called the DEP that morning and noted that he knew there was a mine and that XTO was drilling nearby.

Coen said an acid mine drainage treatment facility was installed around 2002 to handle runoff from the mine. Before that, he said the creek mostly was clean but occasionally could get an orange tint.

He said he had never before seen the creek look like it did Wednesday.

When he looked at the creek Friday, he noted it had an orange tint but was clear. He said the water had been opaque Wednesday.

He also said there is some orange sediment on rocks and sand.

He said the orange water looks bad and is a detriment to his ability to enjoy his property. He also said he in unsure of the toxicity of the water.

“I sure don’t want my dog swimming in it or drinking it,” Coen said.