Yardley Boil-Water Advisory: Pennsbury Schools To Open Monday

YARDLEY, PA — Pennsylvania American Water said Sunday it is making progress on a problem that has caused the Yardley area to be under a boil-water advisory since Thursday evening. But with testing needed to make sure drinking water is safe, it will be at least two more days before residents get the all-clear.

Pennsbury School District schools, however, were set to open and run on a normal schedule on Monday.

PAW said its team made progress Saturday and overnight making repairs to mechanical control issues it says caused increased cloudiness in water at its local treatment plant. By Sunday morning, the company said it was in the process of stabilizing the plant.

Water sampling, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, was set to begin Sunday. But state regulations require two consecutive days of sampling with no signs of bacteria before the boil-water advisory can be lifted.

That would mean the advisory likely won't be lifted any time before late Monday or Tuesday. In the mean time, it remains in effect for customers in Yardley, Lower Makefield and parts of Falls Township. Water customers of Morrisville Municipal Authority are not impacted.

On Sunday morning, Yardley Borough offered free bottled water at Borough Hall. Mayor Chris Harding said Pepsi of Philadelphia had donated 120 cases of water. The water was all gone by around 11 a.m.

For other residents needing clean water, Pennsylvania American Water 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.

In a surprise to some, Pennsbury School District Superintendent William J. Gretzula announced Sunday afternoon that schools would open as usual on Monday. The district, where 8 of 15 schools get their water from Pennsylvania American Water, were closed on Friday.

Gretzula said the district has been in contact with PAW 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.

"Once again, I thank you for your patience and understanding while our district administrative and supervisory teams continue to work carefully and closely with representatives of the PA American Water Company and our local leaders to ensure all students, staff and visitors to Pennsbury schools enter safe environments for teaching and learning," Gretzula said in a letter to the school community.

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.

"We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate our customers patience during this event," the company said in a statement Sunday morning.

Photo courtesy Yardley Mayor Chris Harding