Meeting on Closing of North Hills Well & Impact on Cheltenhman Water

As reported by Glenside Local on Friday, Aqua took one of the water wells in North Hills offline and is evaluating treatment options for a second well in Aidenn Lair well.  Aqua reported the North Hills well in the section of Abington and Upper Dublin Township had combined PFOS + PFOA level 14 PPT. The well is now offline. The North Hill  well supplies water  to that neighborhood, which is separate from Abington Township’s water

The closing of the well in North Hills impacts Cheltenham Township in most of Ward 1; in Springfield, it is Ward 7, Precinct 2. Together, it is an area of about 2.5 miles between Route 73 (Church Road) and Mount Carmel Avenue from Paper Mill Road to Easton Road.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states the Health Advisory Level of combined PFOS + PFOA concentration in drinking water is 70 PPT (parts per trillion and the levels found in those wells were in the thousands.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) draft report of  Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls suggests that the  limit for combined PFOS + PFOA concentration in drinking water should be 17 PPT. While Aqua’s reported levels fall well below the EPA’s recommended guidelines, state Rep. Tom Murt has introduced legislation to lower the ceiling for PFCs in the drinking water from 70 ppt to 5 ppt.

PFASs are man-made chemicals that have been used for decades in the manufacture of products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, coatings on some food packaging such as fast food wrappers and firefighting foam.

Officials say they believe firefighting foam from nearby military bases may have contaminated groundwater in certain areas of eastern Montgomery County, including Horsham, Warminster and Warrington.

Residents in living in this area were notified on Thursday by Representative Steve McCarter’s office(154th legislative district). The closing of the North Hills well has increased anziety in Abington and Cheltenhma about the safety of the drinking water.

Representative Steve McCarter  (D-154)is holding a public meeting Tuesday, August 7, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Little Theater at Cheltenham High School, 500 Rices Mill Road in Wyncote. Note that this is a NEW VENUE for this meeting.

“Like you, I am deeply concerned that our drinking water is safe. I hope you can attend this meeting,” said Representative  McCarter.

Representatives from Aqua, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other stakeholders will be there to educate residents about PFOA and PFOS, hear your concerns and answer your questions.

If you are interested in attending, RSVP by calling (215) 572-5210 or  email RepMcCarter@pahouse.net.

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