Bucks Lawmakers Announce Grant Award For PFAS Removal

PERKASIE, PA — The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) has approved a grant to extend public drinking water to homes that currently use wells contaminated by PFAS, a fire suppressant linked to cancer.

The announcement of the grant was made by State Reps. Craig Staats (R-Quakertown) and Shelby Labs (R-Plumstead). The $3.6 million grant will help fund the cost of connecting 53 homes to water supplied by Perkasie Regional Authority.

“The people of our community have not been forgotten,” Staats said. “The cost of cleaning PFAS from drinking water is prohibitively expensive. It is a burden that should be carried by the governments that allowed its use. I am pleased the administration agreed with us and funded this
corrective measure.”

“Our communities must have the state’s help in guaranteeing PFAS is cleared from our water,” Labs said. “This grant will go a long way in relieving the financial burden from homeowners who are in no way culpable for the use of this chemical.”

The grant will address groundwater contamination issues caused during local fire extinguishing efforts and will improve fire protection with the installation of 10 new fire hydrants.

The funding originates from a combination of state funds approved by voters, Growing Greener, Marcellus Legacy funds, the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, federal grants to PENNVEST from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards. Funds for these projects are disbursed after expenses for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PENNVEST for review.