DEP Update On Blood Tests, PFAS In Water At Abington Meeting

ABINGTON, PA — An upcoming public meeting in Abington will offer updates from the state on what they're to doing to address contaminated drinking water sources.

Gov. Wolf's PFAS Action team is putting together the event, which will be held on Monday, April 15 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Abington Senior High School.

"At this meeting we will hear updates from DEP on a sampling plan to identify potentially contaminated drinking water sources and from the Department of Health on the pilot study for blood levels," Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell said in a statement announcing the meeting.

PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used to make cookware, carpets, clothing, fabrics for furniture, paper packaging for food, and other materials that are resistant to water, grease, or stains. They are also used in firefighting foams and in a number of industrial processes.

PFAS have been found in area wells and groundwater as runoff from local military bases.

The Abington event will also include local legislators and representatives from area utilities discussing other ways to control the damages of PFAS.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend, and are alloted three minutes to give remarks, organizers said. Citizens may also submit comments electronically.

The state recently announced $8 million in grants to remove harmful contaminants from the water in Bucks and Montgomery counties.