Drilling incident at Horseshoe Solar affects local water supplies

Feb 2026Published 15 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

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From the recordRoot cause Failed part

Where: Horseshoe Solar project near Caledonia, New York
What: Groundwater surfaced from two bore holes during horizontal directional drilling
Response: Work stopped; New York State regulators notified; holes grouted on 8 March
Cause: Not reported
Outcome: Low water levels in five homes; temporary supplies provided

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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Horseshoe Solar

What happened

On 3 February 2026, during horizontal directional drilling to install a conduit beneath the Genesee River for the Horseshoe Solar project near Caledonia, New York, groundwater surfaced from two bore holes and briefly spread onto a nearby agricultural field. Work stopped and the New York State Department of Public Service and the Department of Environmental Conservation were notified. After approval, hydrophobic foam grout was applied and finished on 8 March.

The company said no water later surfaced from the grouted holes. In the following weeks, four homes in Meadowood and one on East River Road had low water levels. Horseshoe Solar supplied drinking water and temporary potable systems. Some residents also reported cloudy tap water. Neither the company nor the Department of Public Service gave a cause for that cloudiness.

Contributing factors

The company said pressurised groundwater came to the surface during horizontal directional drilling, which it described as a known possibility of this construction method. The Department of Public Service called encountering pressurised water during such drilling unusual. A cause for later cloudy or low household water has not been reported.

Lessons learned

Horizontal directional drilling beside rivers can release pressurised groundwater, so operators must plan for surface flows and have sealing methods ready.
Regulator approval must be obtained before sealing bore holes after a release during drilling.
Nearby homes should receive temporary drinking water promptly if low or cloudy supplies are reported after drilling.

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Not yet known

Cause of low or cloudy household water
Link between drilling and water supply changes

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Source

13wham.com

Published 2026-09-15. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

The record behind this entry

The record behind EIR-0734 holds the site, the operator, the owner, the root cause and what failed as fields you can filter, count and export, with its source and their verification status. The cause is not hidden: the contributing factors above give it as the sources report it. The record adds it as a field. Companies are named in the roles the sources give them. Being named is not a finding of fault.

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