Water Updates to Board of Supervisors
December 8, 2017 Update on Water Situation
November 22, 2017 Update on Water Situation
November 9, 2017 Update on Water Situation
October 19, 2017 Update on Water Situation
October 6, 2017 Update on Water Situation
September 21, 2017 Update on Water Situation
August 17, 2017 Update on Water Situation
August 4, 2017 Update on Water Situation
July 21, 2017 Update on Water Situation
July 7, 2017 Update on Water Situation
June 23, 2017 Update on Water Situation
May 23, 2017 Update on Water Situation
May 9, 2017 Update on Water Situation
April 18, 2017 Update on Water Situation
March 28, 2017 Update on Water Situation
February 24, 2017 - Update on Water Situation
February 14, 2017 Update on Water Situation
January 24, 2017 Update on Water Situation
January 10, 2017 Update on Water Situation
December 13, 2016 Update on Water Situation
November 22, 2016 Update on Water Situation
October 25, 2016 Update on Water Situation
October 18, 2016 Update on Water Situation
September 24, 2016 Update on Water Situation
September 12, 2016 Update on Water Situation
August 22, 2016 Update on Water Situation
Historical Overview
In October of 2014, the Warrington Township Water and Sewer Department (WTWSD) had our public wells sampled for Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3). At the time, the established Provisional Health Advisory Levels (PHAL) were 200 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOS and 400 ppt for PFOA. WTWSD promptly shut down public wells 1, 2 and 6 on October 29, 2014 (the same day we received the sampling results). As a continuation of the EPA’s UCMR3 program, we tested our public wells again in May of 2015.
On February 24 and 25 of 2015, WTWSD personnel participated in Open House Meetings held by the Navy at the Horsham Community Center.
In October of 2015, Warrington Township entered into a Cooperative Agreement (CA) with the Air National Guard (ANG) for nearly $5.9 million to reimburse the Township for costs associated with the contamination. These costs include:
- Designs and construction for a Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filtration System at the Entry Point (EP) of public wells 1, 2 and 6
- Designs and construction for Water Main Extensions along Valley Road for our public water to reach residents with private wells that tested at or above the PHAL in that area
- Designs and construction for Water Service Connections to properties with private wells testing at or above the PHAL
- Additional Water purchased from North Wales Water Authority (NWWA) as a result of the closure of public wells 1, 2 and 6
- Operating Expenses for 5 years including: testing, media exchange, utilities, Township Administration and Legal Services, Federal Project Consultant and Auditor
On May 19, 2016, the EPA released a new combined Health Advisory Level (HAL) for PFOS and PFOA of 70 ppt. WTWSD promptly shut down public wells 3 and 9 that very same day. Although these public wells were considered safe under the PHAL, they at one point exceeded the HAL.
On May 24 and 25 of 2016, WTWSD personnel participated in Open House Meetings held by the Navy at the Horsham Community Center.
In May of 2016, WTWSD had the public wells tested again. The results from these analyses show that the three public wells that have been online since May 19, 2016 (wells 5, 8 and 11) remain below the HAL.
On July 12, 2016, a presentation on Water Quality was made during the regularly scheduled Warrington Township Board of Supervisors meeting. Much of what was discussed involved information available on this web page. A special Water Quality meeting to be held on August 8, 2016 at 7:00 PM in the Central Bucks High School South Auditorium was announced.
On August 8, 2016, a informational meeting including a presentation and question and answer session were held at the Central Bucks High School South Auditorium.
On August 9, 2016, during a regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting held at the Township building, the Board unanimously adopted a resolution to pursue negotiations with NWWA working towards a full transition over to Forest Park Water Treatment Plant Water.
On August 23, 2016, during a regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting held at the Township building, the Board unanimously approved sending a letter to the Air Force, Navy and EPA concerning private well testing and blood testing. An update on Water Contamination was also provided by the Director of Water and Sewer/Assistant to the Manager.
Analysis Table
Please click the following link to view the updated Analysis Table
FAQs
Q: Is my public water safe to drink?
A: The water in Warrington Township’s public water system is safe according to today’s scientific standards. We continue to comply with the PADEP’s Safe Drinking Water Act as well as EPA regulations including the recently released combined Health Advisory Level (HAL) for PFOA/PFOS.
Q: Is my private well water safe to drink?
A: The Air National Guard (ANG) and EPA have established an area of responsibility bordered in the south by County Line Road, the east by Valley Road, the north by Street Road and the west by Bradford Avenue. Additionally, properties with private wells within 1/4 of a mile of the Little Neshaminy Creek have been approved for testing by the ANG. The ANG and EPA will test any private wells used as a sole source for drinking purposes within that area of responsibility at no cost to you. You may contact Mr. Keith Freihofer, Environmental Restoration Program Manager for the ANG; 3501 Fetchet Avenue- Shepperd Hall, Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762-5157; at (240) 612-8762 to coordinate your private well test.
Q: Where is my water coming from?
A: The western district of the Township is served entirely by water purchased from NWWA. All public wells within the eastern district of the Township feed into the distribution system of the eastern district. Therefore all public wells in the eastern district (excluding those that have been shut down) contribute to the water that is delivered to all public water customers within the eastern district. Additional water from NWWA is being purchased to supplement the loss of water from the 5 public wells taken offline as a result of contamination.
Q: Am I in the western or eastern district?
A: Generally, if your property is located west of Elbow Lane, you are within the western district. Generally, if your property is located east of Elbow Lane, you are within the eastern district.
Q: What kind of health effects do these chemicals have?
A: We would encourage you to contact the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) with any questions concerning health effects of these chemicals. You may visit their website at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ or you may contact them by phone at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4643).
Public Notices/Documents Concerning PFCs
June 13, 2017 Letters to State and Federal Representatives
November 15, 2016 Air Force Response to August 24, 2016 Letter
October 17, 2016 Air Force 111th Attack Wing Letter to Residents
September 21, 2016 ANG Response to EPA Emergency Order
September 2, 2016 Horsham Water and Sewer Authority Surcharge Notice
August 24, 2016 Letter to Air Force, Navy and EPA
August 23, 2016 Public Notice- Elevated Pressure
August 22, 2016 Notice- Elevated Pressure
August, 2016 ATSDR Cancer Data Review Findings
August 15, 2016 Horsham Township Panel Discussion
August 8, 2016 Water Meeting Agenda
August 8, 2016 ANG Presentation
August 8, 2016 Presentation Handout
August 8, 2016 Water Facilities Map
August 8, 2016 Agency Contact List
July 12, 2016- Water Quality Presentation
July 12, 2016 EPA Emergency Order
June 15, 2016- Conservation Measures
June 10, 2016- Governor Wolf Letter
May 13, 2015 EPA Administrative Order
October, 2014 Open House Notice
EPA Approved Laboratories
Please find below a link to a list of EPA Approved Laboratories for the UCMR3.
The labs with an “X” under the EPA 537 column are the labs to contact for PFOA/PFOS.
PADEP Verified PFC Lab List
Public Well Sampling Analyses
October 2017 Sampling Results
August 2017 Sampling Results
July 2017 Sampling Results
June 2017 Sampling Results
May 2017 Sampling Results
February 2017 Sampling Results
November 2016 Sampling Results
Useful Information
ATSDR PFC page- http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfc/index.html
ATSDR Cancer Data Review (1985-2013)
ATSDR Press Release –http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/news/displaynews.asp?PRid=2623
PFC home filtration factsheets from other states-https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/investigations/hoosick/docs/hoosick_pou_final.pdf
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/documents/pfoa-inhome-treatment-20160518.pdf
Anumol (2015). Point-of-Use Devices for Attenuation of Trace Organic Compounds in Water-
http://www.awwa.org/publications/journal-awwa/abstract/articleid/53620391.aspx
Minnesota Department of Health (2008). Removal of PFC with Point-of-Use (POU) Water Treatment Devices: Final Report-
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/waterquality/poudevicefinal.pdf
Blog: https://blog.epa.gov/blog/2016/05/protection-for-drinking-water/
EPA Health Advisories website: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/drinking-water-health-advisories-pfoa-and-pfos
EPA Fact Sheet: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/drinkingwaterhealthadvisories_pfoa_pfos_updated_5.31.16.pdf
EPA Fact SheetProvisional Health Advisory Limit (PHAL) Info
Ongoing Cleanup at Willow Grove Naval Air and Reserve Base (NASJRB)
