Aqua Pennsylvania Reaches Settlement to Purchase Venango Water Company

Fallout from public water supply contamination by conventional oil wastewater spill continues

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Aqua Pennsylvania has notified the Public Utility Commission that it has reached a 'settlement in principle' with the Rhodes Estate and Randal and Kevin Rhodes to purchase the Venango Water Company and other water systems owned by the Rhodes Estate. This comes after Aqua was ordered to temporarily operate the Rhodes Estate water systems in 2023 following a spill of conventional oil well wastewater that contaminated the Venango Water Company's water supply.

Why it matters

The Venango Water Company and other Rhodes Estate water systems have faced significant challenges since the 2023 conventional oil wastewater spill, including the need for over $5.5 million in capital improvements. The settlement would allow Aqua Pennsylvania to take over ownership and operation of these systems, ensuring continued water service for customers in the region.

The details

In July 2023, a spill of conventional oil well wastewater from wells owned by Petro Erie, Inc. contaminated Bellows Spring, one of two water resources used by the Venango Water Company to serve the Village of Reno. This led the Public Utility Commission to order Aqua Pennsylvania to temporarily operate the Venango Water Company and six other Rhodes Estate water systems. Aqua has now notified the PUC that it has reached a 'settlement in principle' to purchase these water systems from the Rhodes Estate.

  • In July 2023, a spill of conventional oil well wastewater contaminated the Venango Water Company's water supply.
  • On August 11, 2023, the PUC issued emergency receivership orders for Aqua Pennsylvania to temporarily operate the Venango Water Company and six other Rhodes Estate water systems.
  • On August 1, 2025, Aqua Pennsylvania originally notified the PUC Administrative Law Judge of the settlement to purchase the Rhodes Estate water systems.
  • On February 3, 2026, Aqua Pennsylvania included the settlement update in a status report to the PUC.

The players

Aqua Pennsylvania

An American water utility company that has been temporarily operating the Venango Water Company and six other Rhodes Estate water systems under emergency receivership orders from the PUC since 2023.

Rhodes Estate

The owner of the Venango Water Company and six other water systems that Aqua Pennsylvania has reached a settlement in principle to purchase.

Randal and Kevin Rhodes

The owners of the Rhodes Estate water companies who announced they were resigning as operators, leading to the PUC ordering Aqua Pennsylvania to temporarily take over the systems.

Petro Erie, Inc.

The owner of the conventional oil wells whose wastewater spill in 2023 contaminated the Venango Water Company's water supply, leading to the current situation.

Mark J. Hoyer

The PUC Administrative Law Judge who has been handling the formal proceeding to determine the future ownership and management of the Rhodes water systems since March 2024.

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What’s next

After Aqua Pennsylvania finalizes the settlement documents with the Rhodes Estate, Administrative Law Judge Mark J. Hoyer will review the settlement and decide on the next steps in the proceeding to determine the future ownership and management of the Rhodes water systems.

The takeaway

This settlement highlights the ongoing challenges and fallout from the 2023 conventional oil wastewater spill that contaminated the Venango Water Company's water supply. The purchase of the Rhodes Estate water systems by Aqua Pennsylvania could help ensure reliable water service for customers in the region, but the long-term impacts and costs of the spill continue to be felt.