Free Bottled Water Available In Yardley On Monday

YARDLEY, PA — For the second time, Yardley officials will be making free bottled water available on Monday as a boil-water advisory stretches into its fifth day.

Mayor Chris Harding said the free cases of bottled water will be made available starting at around 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Yardley Police Department parking lot at the rear of Yardley Borough Hall.

The water was donated by health-drink maker Bai, Harding said.

Late Sunday, Pennsylvania American Water had begun collecting water samples to start the process of lifting the boil-water advisory that's been in effect in the Yardley area since Thursday.

State regulations require two consecutive days of test results that show no signs of bacteria before the advisory can be lifted. A statement from the company said its team, which has been working around the clock, has stabilized its local treatment plant, where "mechanical control issues" caused high levels of cloudiness in the water supply.

The cloudiness, or "turbidity," could be a sign of high levels of dangerous bacteria in the water. For now, the advisory continues for PAWC customers in Yardley, Lower Makefield and parts of Falls Township.

In a Facebook post, Harding said Pennsylvania American Water officials told him the "best case scenario" is that the advisory could be lifted Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, all Pennsbury School district schools were back in session and following a normal schedule on Monday, after closing Friday due to the advisory.

Schools in the district, where 8 of 15 campuses get their water from Pennsylvania American Water, were closed on Friday.

Superintendent William J. Gretzula said the district has been in contact with PAWC and that the company has provided pallets of bottled water to each school. Each pallet contains about 1,500 bottles of water. He also said the district's food service provider, The Nutrition Group, has been in touch with the Bucks County Department of Health about hand-washing and other details related to preparing breakfast and lunch on Monday.

State Rep. Perry Warren, who represents much of the impacted area, said Sunday that the company also planned to deliver clean water to the area's private, parochial and religious schools.

Warren said on Facebook that the boil-water advisory was triggered by a single turbidity test on which PAWC water registered a 1.7, when the acceptable level is 1.0 or less. The level on tests after that has not been above 1.0, Warren said, citing information from the company.

For residents needing clean water, Pennsylvania American Water also has set up tankers at the following locations:

• Yardley and Makefield fire companies, 105 S. Main St., Yardley, and 652 Stony Hill Rd., Lower Makefield
• Big Oak Shopping Center, 1641 Big Oak Rd.
• Village Market, 599 Washington Crossing Rd., Lower Makefield
• Gas Light Village, 85 Makefield Rd., Falls Township.

Residents are encouraged to bring their own containers to the tanker sites. The tankers are available from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

More information on the boil-water advisory, including details on when you can use untreated tap water and when you can't, can be found on the Pennsylvania American Water website.

Photo via Shutterstock