Wolf Pledges $3.8 Million To Fight PFAS In Bucks, Montco

HORSHAM, PA — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday pledged $3.8 million to help communities in Bucks and Montgomery counties deal with water supplies threatened by toxic chemicals.

Speaking in Horsham, Wolf said the state will provide a grant in that amount to help offset the costs of water filtering and other treatment in Horsham, Warminster, Warrington and Warwick. Residents in those places have paid millions extra on their water bills as officials work to remove and prevent PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) from entering the systems.

The chemicals are believed to have leached into the groundwater from a firefighting foam used at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Willow Grove, officials have said. In Horsham, contaminated water led to Aqua Pennsylvania shutting downs its wells, and spurred widespread concerns about the safety of drinking water in the region.

"Republican or Democrat, senator or representative, every elected official understands that clean drinking water is a critical issue," Wolf said. "We all want Pennsylvanians to live the happiest, healthiest lives possible and today I am proud to be here to help lessen a burden for these communities that residents did not cause."

Wolf also renewed his call for the United States Environmental Protection Agency to establish an enforceable, nationwide drinking water standard for PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

In February, the EPA said it will begin setting limits this year on the two man-made chemicals, which have been linked to cancer and other illnesses.

"The federal government played a big role in causing these issues and they should be stepping up in a much bigger way," Wolf, a Democrat, said Thursday. "We need the White House and Congress to get serious about addressing this issue."

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are manmade chemicals resistant to heat, water and oil, and persist in the environment and the human body. Last year, Wolf announced the establishment of a multi-agency PFAS Action Team and other executive actions to address growing concerns surrounding PFAS.

The governor was joined by local lawmakers on Thursday.

"Horsham residents shouldn’t have to bear the costs of removing the federal government’s contamination from our drinking water," said state Rep. Todd Stephens. "Working together with Gov. Wolf, we’ve been able to provide funds to eliminate the unfair surcharges Horsham residents have been paying to ensure their water is safe to drink."

Added state Rep. Meghan Schroeder: "For years, our residents in Warminster have absorbed the cost of purchasing clean water due to the federal government’s inability to clean up its own mess. With this state funding, we will finally be able to alleviate the surcharge for this water from our ratepayers. As Warwick Township deals with similar contamination issues, we will work to ensure that this funding will assist them with needed infrastructure improvements."