Columbia man claims contaminants at Columbia Water Co. tower exceed maximum federal level

JULISSA RODRIGUEZ | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE

What happened: [On April 13] Columbia resident Adam Copenhaver told Mountville Borough Council that water test results sampled at a tower operated by Columbia Water Co. at 224 Eagle Path, Mountville, exceeded the federal maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes by 36% at 109 parts per billion versus 80 parts per billion, on Oct. 14, 2025. Columbia Water provides Mountville, Columbia and several other communities in Lancaster and York counties with public water.

More: Copenhaver asserted TTHMs are a carcinogen. According to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, total trihalomethanes, or TTHMs, are a byproduct of a reaction between a disinfectant and natural organic matter in water.

Acknowledgement: Council members thanked Copenhaver for bringing this issue to their attention.

Public matter: The information Copenhaver provided is readily available on DEP’s website, where LNP | LancasterOnline found the most recent sample date for 224 Eagle Path, Mountville was Jan. 12 of this year when TTHMs were measured at 19.5 parts per billion.

For comparison: TTHM levels for the other dates in 2025 besides the October water sample Copenhaver referenced were the following, according to DEP: Jan 14 at 23.6 parts per billion; April 14 at 29.5 parts per billion; and July 14 at 91.5 parts per billion.

Columbia Water statement: “Recently, statements shared online have suggested that our water system is automatically in violation of federal drinking water standards because one TTHM sample result was above the maximum contaminant level. That is not how the federal compliance rule is applied,” Columbia Water posted on its website to explain how the annual average is calculated. EPA sets the maximum contaminant level of TTHMs based an annual running average at each monitoring station based on the most recent four quarters of sampling results at that location.

More: After the meeting, Copenhaver said he maintains that the human body does not consume TTHMs by the annual average; contaminants are consumed per day. David Lewis, president and general manager of Columbia Water Co., did not immediately respond to a reporter’s attempts to reach him for comment.

Columbia Borough Officer Jack Kopp promoted to Corporal

Lieutenant (soon to be Chief) Holly Arndt honored the promotion of Corporal Jack Kopp at Tuesday's Columbia Borough Council meeting. 

[Photos: Joe Lintner]

The promotion of Officer Jack Kopp to the rank of Corporal was recognized during the Columbia Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The promotion was presented by Lieutenant Holly Arndt, who is set to assume the role of Chief of Police on May 1.

Corporal Kopp, who came to Columbia from the Harrisburg area, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a focus in Criminology, graduating with honors from Millersville University in 2022. He also minored in Psychology. Before joining the department, he briefly worked for the Lebanon County District Attorney's Office as a booking agent.

Kopp began his tenure with the Columbia Borough Police Department in December 2022 and attended the 122nd HACC Municipal Police Academy, where he graduated near the top of his class. He was formally sworn in as an officer on March 11, 2025, and was recognized as the department's Employee of the Month for December 2024.

Since joining the force, Corporal Kopp has become a certified bike officer, a certified field training officer, and serves as the department's community anti-threat officer. He has also received specialized training in crime scene investigation and evidence collection, skills he regularly uses in major incidents in the borough.

In her remarks, Lieutenant Arndt praised Kopp's development as both an officer and a leader. "Throughout his tenure with the Columbia Borough Police Department, Corporal Kopp has demonstrated strong work ethic, sound judgment, and a commitment to the community we serve," she said. "Whether handling calls, supporting fellow officers, or stepping up in challenging situations, he has proven himself to be a dependable and professional leader."

Arndt, who helped train Kopp at the police academy, said, "The rank of corporal carries a new responsibility — it's a transition from being solely responsible for your own work to helping guide others, setting the tone on a shift, and mentoring younger, or older, officers, and leading by example."

She remarked to Kopp: "Wear the stripes with pride. Stay grounded and continue to lead the way you always have — with integrity, professionalism, and respect. Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge."

Agenda — Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board Meeting — April 29, 2026

Holly Arndt becomes first female police chief in Columbia Borough history

Mayor Leo Lutz swears in Holly Arndt as Columbia Borough's new police chief.

[Photo: Joe Lintner]

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

History was made Tuesday night as Columbia Borough Council voted unanimously to approve the promotion of Holly Arndt to Police Chief, making her the first woman to hold the position in the department's 131-year history.

Arndt succeeds Jack Brommer, who is retiring at the end of April and will assume the position of Columbia Borough Manager on May 1.

Arndt is a graduate of York College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. She launched her law enforcement career in 2004 as a corrections officer at York County Prison, and in 2006 became a deputy sheriff with York County. She joined the Columbia Borough Police Department as a patrol officer in March 2008. 

Over the course of her 18-year tenure with the department, Arndt became the first — and only — female officer to achieve the rank of lieutenant in the department's history when she was promoted from sergeant in 2025. She had been promoted to sergeant in November 2023 and corporal in 2019.

During her career, Arndt helped shape the department and was involved in developing a field training program and a defensive tactics program. For the past 11 years, she has served as the primary or secondary trainer for every officer hired by the department. She has also completed the FBI National Academy's leadership certification program and the Penn State Criminal Justice Program's police leadership series, and is a graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command — an intensive 10-week program for command-level supervisors. 

Arndt is a member of the Lancaster County Crash Investigative Unit, the Lancaster County Forensics Team, and the Lancaster County Crisis Intervention Team. In addition, she coaches girls basketball for the CBAA, mentors youth through the Big Brothers Big Sisters "Bigs and Blue" program, serves as a lead instructor at the Harrisburg Area Community College Municipal Police Academy, and contributes to the development of annual in-service training for the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission.

Arndt's promotion takes effect May 1 at an annual  salary of $123,497.

Will Lt. Holly Arndt become Columbia's next police chief?

Lieutenant Holly Arndt

[Photo: Joe Lintner]

Council will vote on it at Tuesday's meeting.  Here's the agenda:

The meeting packet is HERE.

Deeds Recorded — Columbia Borough — April 27, 2026

GPS LLC conveyed 1001 Spruce St. to Alexander Farver for $295,000.

The estate of Burg Vivian Louise conveyed 745 Walnut St. to Ashworth Stephen D., Ashworth Cynthia D., Ashworth Abigail B. for $195,000.

The estate of Haug Carole A. Est., Haug Carole Ann conveyed 45 S. Sixth St. to Murphy Becky L., Kashner Lisa A., Sumpman Christine M., Haug Stephen M. Sr. for $1.

Michael H. Leary conveyed 497 Norwood Road to Hurst Camden, Hurst Chase for $600,000.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 714 Plane St. to Cordero Maricella Porfiria for $200,000.

About Town — April 26, 2026

This week's photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Columbia is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year. Actually, Wright's Ferry/Columbia is.

The Old Columbia Public Grounds Company is celebrating 200 years.

Some folks are celebrating recovery.

New door murals by anndope at the State Theatre Vintage Emporium 

And some theatre seats outside 

More artists around town . . .

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More progress at the South 9th Street project 

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Iron Eagle was back at the former McGinness property.

Aren't they supposed to be done out there?

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C.S. Davidson was checking out the area around Shawnee Run. 

There's their truck.

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Remodeling at the smoke shop 

Progress at the Wright's Ferry Mansion/Von Hess project 

When you want that pole to stay in place, just tie it to another one with an old piece of rope.

It's always a good time for a selfie. 

Yes it is.

How many crows constitute a murder?

Google says it's three or more — up to tens of thousands.

Two crows are sometimes referred to as an "attempted murder."

Volunteers cleaned up around town Friday morning. 

Let's hope they find whatever this is.

(By the way, where's Riverside Park?)

Workers cut a tree from a house on Poplar Street and pulled it up with a crane over that warehouse building — and cut it up in the parking lot next to Avenue F. Good job.

[Submitted photos and video]

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U-turn

Would you call this defensive driving?

[Submitted]

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