Cross Keys/Easton Road Area PFOA/PFOS Update
History
In May 2016, as a result of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowering the health advisory level of the unregulated contaminants perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro-octane sulfonate (PFOS) to 70 parts per trillion (ppt) the Doylestown Township Municipal Authority (DTMA) closed the public Cross Keys Well after sampling revealed levels above the EPA’s health advisory level. In addition, DTMA initiated a sampling program at all of their other public wells. This sampling revealed the remaining wells have detectable levels of PFOA and PFOS. However, these levels are well below the new health advisory level and the water is considered safe for consumption. DTMA will continue to monitor and sample all their wells in the future for these contaminants. Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) continues to conduct their sampling program within a one mile radius of the Cross Keys well for Doylestown Township residents with private wells.
As a result of the Cross Keys public well closure, the DTMA began using a temporary, backup source of water. In the meantime, DTMA began investigating cost effective alternatives to find a permanent source. It was determined a water main extension from Sawmill Road and Swamp Road connecting DTMA’s North Water System to the Cross Key System will provide with a safe, reliable supply of water for years to come.
PA Dept. of Protection
Since May 2016 the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection ( PA DEP) has been actively investigating PFOA/PFOS contamination within the Doylestown area as part of the Easton Road PFC HSCA site.
DEP’s next step in this investigation involves the construction and installation of groundwater monitoring wells in the site area, specifically within an area of Doylestown Township where the highest concentrations of PFOA/PFOS have been encountered. The purpose of these monitoring wells is to aid the PA DEP in determining the nature and extent of groundwater contamination beneath the site area. This information will also assist PA DEP in drafting a potential interim response action to be implemented at the site.
Updates from PA DEP
- In February 2022, the DEP published notice of a proposed rule to set drinking water standards, known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for PFOA and PFOS under the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act.
- In anticipation of the finalization of the MCLs in early 2023, DEP is expanding the eligibility criteria of the provision of alternative drinking water, which previously included only those homes that exceeded the lifetime Health Advisory Level (HAL) of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for the combined concentration of PFOA and PFOS set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2016, to homes that were previously sampled by DEP and found to have detections of greater than the proposed MCLs of 14 ppt for PFOA or 18 ppt for PFOS.
- Homes that meet these revised criteria have been directly contacted by DEP.
- DEP will be conducting additional sampling, including resampling of homes, to determine if any additional homes at the Site meet these revised criteria.
- The results for homes that have DEP-installed filtration systems indicate the systems have been removing PFOA and PFOS to below these revised criteria.
DEP is reviewing the existing response action for this Site and will consider these revised criteria in evaluating the Site.
Archives of Community Updates regarding this site- can be viewed at here.