PFAS are carcinogenic chemicals commonly used in firefighting foam and consumer product coatings.
Residents continued to voice concerns about PFAS contamination in Perkasie Regional Authority (PRA) water at this week’s East Rockhill Board of Supervisors meeting following water testing by the township.
The board agreed to pursue testing of PRA water at its August meeting after resident Jennifer Wright pointed to a July test of well #5 showing a PFAS level of 63 parts per trillion, more than three times the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) legal limit of 18 parts per trillion.
PFAS are carcinogenic chemicals commonly used in firefighting foam and consumer product coatings. Contamination issues have engulfed the township since 2016 when numerous wells tested positive for elevated levels of PFAS. The township has blamed the contamination on firefighting foam used to extinguish a local fire decades ago.
Following the discovery of PFAS contamination, dozens of affected properties were connected to PRA’s public water system.
More recently, the board approved a new PRA water filtration and treatment facility at 730 Three Mile Run Road following an April decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to cap PFAS levels at four parts per trillion. The rule gives public water systems five years to bring their PFAS levels into compliance. At the time, land surveyor Brian Binney told the board that the project was purely proactive. The facility’s expected completion date is fall 2025.
But following Wright’s concerns about the current quality of PRA water, the township hired M.J. Reider, a Reading-based laboratory, to take water samples at the East Rockhill Township building and a Three Mile Run Road rental property.
At Tuesday’s meeting, township manager Marianne Morano announced that the tests passed, with the East Rockhill Township building sample showing a PFOS level of 5.8 mg/l and a PFOA level of 3.1 mg/l and the Three Mile Run Road property showing a PFOS level of 11 mg/l and a PFOA level of 6.0 mg/l. PFOS and PFOA are the most common PFAS chemicals.
But the test results did little to assuage resident concerns.
Wright noted that PRA’s annual running average is 18 parts per trillion, the maximum DEP contaminant level and more than four times the EPA limit. She argued that the EPA’s five-year grace period was meant for public water systems with no knowledge of PFAS contamination, excluding PRA.
“PRA has known about this for years, since 2016,” said Wright. “Common sense would say they should already be in compliance, and they could be closer in compliance by taking the simple step of inactivating well five.”
She also revealed that DEP has begun supplying free water to several local residences whose wells tested above the EPA limit of 4 parts per trillion.
“So DEP is going by the 4 parts per trillion, but everyone stuck on Perkasie Regional Water is stuck drinking 18 parts per trillion,” said Wright. “I think it’s disgusting.”
In response, the board argued that its hands were tied, saying that board members have no authority over PRA and that PRA is in compliance with state standards.
“Our tests show that they are meeting the requirement, maybe just barely, but they are meeting it,” said Supervisor Jim Nietupski.
However, the board did agree to share the residents’ concerns with the PRA’s solicitor before the next board meeting.
2025 preliminary budget
The board approved the advertisement of the 2025 preliminary budget with no tax increases. The balanced budget projects revenues and expenditures of $8.2 million and includes a sewage rate increase of $10 per month.
The budget also includes funding for numerous roadwork projects, such as an ultra-thin bonded wearing course on Deer Run Road, Buck Drive, Pine Court and a section of Campus Drive in the Pines I development, widening of a section of Hill Road, oil and chip application on Clymer Road from Mountain View to Sternermill Road and on West Rock Road and mill and overlay on Harriet Drive, Meadlow Lane and Willow Court.
New sewer ordinance
The board adopted a new township sewer ordinance, lowering the permissible pH balance in sewer discharge as required by the EPA. The amendment also codifies a series of regulations for on-lot sewage systems, including a mandatory three-year pump out of septic systems. The changes were requested by the DEP as part of the Old Bethlehem Pike public sewer line extension project.
Supervisor Nietupski cast the sole vote against the ordinance, characterizing the regulations as overly burdensome on the township and criticizing the absence of community input.
Baluh noted that the Bucks County Health Department will enforce the ordinance and that the purpose is to improve the maintenance of septic systems to prevent costly replacements or extensions of public sewer.
“That’s the concept behind it. If you do a little bit of enforcement and encouragement to maintain the systems, they’ll last longer, and it will save everybody money in the long run,” said Baluh.
Roundabout improvements
Township engineer Steve Baluh gave an update on the Three Mile Run Road and Park Avenue roundabout improvements. Designed to ease traffic speeds and improve safety, the roundabout experienced two car accidents within a week of its opening. The township responded by installing additional flashing lights and message boards, successfully preventing any further incidents, said Baluh. He added that some additional signs and lighting have been ordered.
Pennridge Greenjackets park lease
The board discussed the renewal of the Pennridge Greenjackets’ lease of Willard H. Markey Centennial Park. The three-year lease runs from late summer to late fall. Township solicitor Will Oetinger informed the board that the organization is requesting the extension of the lease into the spring for flag football. The new lease would require the Greenjackets to submit a schedule of use at least two weeks in advance, subject to board approval. The fields would be open for public use on dates not reserved by the Greenjackets.
After voicing unease about the “exclusive” usage of the public park’s fields, the board requested a one-year trial period for the lease extension. Supervisor Gary Volovnik also raised concerns about traffic implications. Supervisor Dave Nyman suggested including a traffic control plan in the lease.
The next East Rockhill Board of Supervisors meeting is on November 26 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit eastrockhilltownship.org.
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