The Newtown Artesian Water Company received approval from the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors Tuesday evening for a $3.5 million expansion of its water treatment facility on Frost Lane.
The project will install new filtration equipment to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from drinking water.
Dan Angove, CEO of Newtown Artesian Water Company, told the public about the need for the expansion at the site at 251 Frost Lane, which is across from Goodnoe Elementary School, in Newtown Township.
“Our ultimate goal is for our customers to have confidence to provide safe and reliable drinking water while maintaining an affordable cost and to meet all standards put in place by the DEP and the EPA,” Angove said.
The expansion will add a large structure to house two massive filters at the existing unmanned facility.
The new federal drinking water standards, expected next year, will require PFAS levels to be reduced to near zero.
“Essentially, your water contains PFAs and PFOAs, and the new standards coming out of the federal government are going to bring the acceptable amount to have in water down to zero,” said an attorney representing the water company.
The supervisors approved a waiver of land development for the project that will allow the water company to speed up the start of construction and reduce costs. The approval is conditional on compliance with township engineering requirements.
The expansion is expected to have minimal impact on the surrounding area. The facility will remain unmanned, with occasional visits for maintenance and filter replacement.
The supervisors questioned how the project would be funded, expressing concern about potential rate increases.
Angove confirmed that a recent 11.5 percent rate increase, approved by the Public Utility Commission, will help cover the expansion costs.
“Part of that rate increase does include the construction of the $3.5 million PFAS treatment plant, that will remove all the PFAS from the drinking water,” Angove said. He added the increase amounts to about $11.94 per quarter, or $4 per month, for the average consumer.
Construction on the PFAS removal facility is expected to begin soon, with the water company aiming to have the new system operational before the stricter federal standards take effect.
The contaminants, part of a group known as PFAS chemicals have been linked to a range of serious health issues, including developmental problems in fetuses and infants, skeletal variations, and cancers in adults.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has highlighted the potential risks associated with PFAS exposure and pointed to the importance of removing these chemicals from drinking water.
PFAS chemicals, which include PFOS and PFOA, are known to remain in the environment and the human body where they can accumulate over time.
PFAS compounds have been used in a wide array of consumer products and industrial applications, including firefighting foams at military bases, carpet manufacturing, and the production of household goods.
The Newtown Artesian Water Company company serves customers in Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, and the northern portion of Middletown Township.
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