The state Department of Environmental Protection found that the thousands of dead fish found on July 14 in Chartiers Creek tested positive for fungicide.
Some fungicides, used on food crops and golf courses, are lethal to freshwater organisms, according to studies by the University of South Florida and other researchers.
Chartiers Creek, a tributary of the Ohio River, runs from the center of Washington County to Allegheny County, emptying into the Ohio at McKees Rocks.
The fish kill was reported in the area of Valley Brook Road in Peters, according to the DEP and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.
Dead fish were found downstream in a 7-to-10-mile area.
At first, DEP suspected that a pesticide or herbicide application could be the cause of the fish kill.
But after taking samples on July 15 and later, the agency received results positive for a fungicide, said Lauren Fraley, DEP spokeswoman.
The agency cannot comment on the source of the fungicide but its investigation on the source is still open, she said.
“DEP does not currently have evidence that any fungicide remains in Chartiers Creek in the area of the spill and found no additional pollutants from the July 14 incident to indicate a further impact on aquatic life,” she said.
Fish are returning to the area of the fish kill, Fraley said, but it will take time for the aquatic life to repopulate to levels before the fish kill.
DEP’s investigation was “significantly impeded” by learning about the fish kill a day later, she said.
Residents should contact DEP immediately for a fish kill or other potential pollution events by calling 412-442-4000 or sending a complaint to its website.
Mary Ann Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Mary at 724-226-4691, mthomas@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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DEP: Fungicide caused fish kill on Chartiers Creek; fish are returning - TribLIVE
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