Public Information Session on Contaminated Water is Wednesday

A public information session will be held tonight, Wednesday, Aug. 27, to discuss elevated levels of a contaminant found in wells in Horsham and Warminster.

The U.S. Navy is hosting the public information session at William Tennent High School to share information with the public on actions taken in response to the identification of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in drinking water at public and private wells near the former Naval Air Base.

The session will be an open house format with information from the Navy, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Warminster Municipal Authority.

Residents are encouraged to attend anytime between 5 and 9 p.m.

Earlier this month, the Horsham Water and Sewer Authority announced it had taken two wells out of service due to elevated levels of PFOS. The EPA is also sampling privately owned wells to take additional actions if needed to protect human health.

PFOS are perfluorinated compounds that are or were once used in a variety of consumer products, such as fire-fighting foam, stain and water repellants, paper products, the lining of microwave popcorn bags, floor wax and non-stick cookware. In laboratory animals, PFOS can cause developmental, reproductive and other adverse effects, the Horsham Water and Sewer Authority said in a statement posted to the township’s website.

For more information about the public meeting, contact (215) 897-4900.