Public Water to 48 More Homes in East Rockhill
January 21, 2009
The Cedar View Water Extension Project is expected to start in March, bringing public water to 48 homes that either have or are in danger of having contaminated water. The contract specifies completion within 90 to 120 days of the Notice to Proceed.
The project is estimated to cost over $1.1 million and will be fully funded by:
- DEP and EPA funding
- A contribution from a local business, Draper DBS, that will be connecting to the system
- Perkasie Borough Authority (PBA) Funding
- Donated labor and equipment from East Rockhill Township
State Senator Rob Wonderling was instrumental in securing DEP funding for the Cedar View Water Extension Project. Local tax dollars will not be used to fund this project.
History of the Contamination
In 1980, Trichloroethene (TCE) and Tetrachloroethene (PCE) were discharged into the groundwater by the now defunct Lenape Manufacturing Company.
Once the contamination was detected, Lenape was required to attached carbon filters to the wells of the affected homes and set up a trust fund to replace and maintain them. Over time, the trust fund started to run out of money as the cost of maintenance went up and the contamination spread.
Several years ago, before the trust fund ran out of money, the PBA and East Rockhill Township started talking to the DEP about plans for when the trust fund becomes depleted. The Cedar View Water Extension Project is a result of those talks.
