Buckingham Awarded $2.4M For Treatment, Removal Of 'Forever Chemicals'

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Buckingham Township has been awarded a $2.4 million grant from PENNVEST (Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority) to support the design and installation of a PFAS treatment and removal system at the township’s Furlong Water System.

The Furlong system serves residents in the central portion of Buckingham and includes eight production wells — two of which (F-6 and F-7) are currently inactive — along with four water storage tanks and four booster pump stations. In 2022, the Furlong Water System was interconnected with the Buckingham Village Water System.

Although the Furlong Water System tested below the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection levels, baseline test results demonstrated that the township should move forward with PFOA/PFOS removal at the system's F8 well site.

State Senator Steve Santarsiero and State Rep. Tim Brennan joined Buckingham in announcing the grant award, which will fund "critical upgrades" to the Furlong system.

“PFAS contamination poses a serious threat to our community, and no family should have to question whether their drinking water meets federal safety standards,” said State Rep. Tim Brennan. “This state funding will support critical upgrades to local water infrastructure, ensuring residents of Peddler’s View have access to safe, clean drinking water while protecting public health and easing the financial burden on local households.”

With the funding, Buckingham will install a PFAS removal system at the F-8 well site, housed in a newly proposed treatment building. The system will utilize a two-vessel granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption system, designed and manufactured by Calgon Carbon. The skid-mounted treatment unit will use FILTRASORB 400, a high-performance GAC media proven effective in removing PFAS and other dissolved organic contaminants from drinking water.

In addition to PFAS, the system is capable of reducing taste and odor compounds, organic color, total organic carbon, and certain industrial organic compounds. The treatment system has been designed for a flow rate of 200 gallons per minute, consistent with the operating capacity of the existing well pump.

“Clean, safe drinking water is fundamental to the health of our communities,” said Santarsiero. “This funding will help Buckingham install modern filtration systems that reduce PFAS to below new federal standards and protect residents’ water supply for years to come. I’m proud to support investments that strengthen local water infrastructure and give families confidence in the water coming from their taps.”

Brennan added, “Clean, safe water is essential for every family in Buckingham Township, and PFAS contamination is a serious threat to our community’s health. Thanks to state support, Buckingham Township can upgrade its water treatment system to meet updated federal PFAS standards, protecting public health for the long-term while ensuring local taxpayers don’t bear the full cost of these critical improvements.”

This is the second grant secured from PENNVEST for PFOA/PFOS treatment in the township. The first award in July 2025 secured a $2,057,063 grant with a $615,089 low interest loan for the township's Hearthstone facility in the Cold Spring Water System.

"The Board of Supervisors would like to thank the township staff, our water engineers and our state representatives for their efforts in securing this grant funding, which will greatly reduce the costs for our residents that use our water system while guaranteeing the continued delivery of safe drinking water to the community," said Chairwoman Maggie Rash.

PENNVEST's mission is to serve communities through capital funding for drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, non-point source pollution prevention and other related projects. Its funding aids communities to increase the health and safety of Commonwealth citizens, protect our environment, promote economic development, and improve water quality.