King’s Gap General Store, a cherished small business located in Carlisle, is currently facing a significant financial challenge. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has determined that the store's more than 150-year-old hand-dug well does not meet current industry standards. As a result, the store is now required to install a machine-dug well, which comes with an estimated cost of $25,000.
Despite the fact that the water from this well has never been used to serve customers, DEP classifies the store as a “public water system.” This classification has led to the requirement for the new well, which the owner, Debra Shock, must complete to obtain DEP authorization.
Shock has expressed frustration over the situation, stating that she has been turned down by every funding source she has approached. However, after a recent report by CBS 21 highlighted the issue, there has been a shift in support.
“We did get an email today from Laura at Economic Development saying that they might be able to help us,” Shock shared. “Originally, they had said they didn’t think they could help because it’s mixed use—residence and store.”
In addition to the potential assistance from Economic Development, Shock also received a call from the secretary of Senator Greg Rothman, who offered to help. According to CBS 21, the senator’s team acknowledged that the coverage of the well issue brought attention to the challenges faced by the store.
“It takes a village, and that’s pretty much what’s going on,” Shock said.
CBS 21 has also discovered that King’s Gap General Store is not the only business affected by DEP’s policies. Republican State Representative Barb Gleim shared her concerns about the impact on other local businesses.
“When I heard about the DEP issue immediately, I thought to myself, oh no, not another one,” Gleim said. “DEP came up with new standards, and it’s at a hefty price tag. These small businesses are struggling to change over.”
Gleim noted that farmers and campgrounds are among the other local businesses affected by the new regulations. She emphasized that DEP seems to have a mission to replace wells in the area.
“There have been multiple other small businesses who have been visited by DEP and told that they have a hand-dug well and need to replace it with the new standards,” Gleim added.
Both Gleim and Shock believe that one potential solution is to "grandfather in" older businesses or reclassify them. Shock expressed her desire for a change in classification, stating:
“I really want the classification changed, and that will help us in the long run. I just don’t think it’s right because we’ve never served water to our customers. By having people back us, we’ll be able to get this changed and taken care of. Hopefully, we won’t have to put the well in, but even if we do, maybe DEP will take a second glance at what they do, not just us, but to everybody else.”
Gleim echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for a more sustainable approach for small business owners.
“We’re just going to keep working with DEP, letting them know that this price tag is unsustainable for these small business owners and come up with something else,” she said.
For those interested in supporting King’s Gap General Store, donations can be made through their GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of the new well.
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