New York

Big Week for Water Contamination Concerns in Montco, Bucks Counties

Two important events take place this week as concerns grow over the health effects of water contamination on and near local military bases.

The first is Monday at 7 p.m. at Horsham's Community Center located at 1025 Horsham Road.

Township Council and Horsham Water and Sewer Authority hold a joint meeting about water quality. The topic's being addressed at the regular Council Meeting, which is open to the public.

In a notice posted late last week about the meeting, the public was invited to hear about the remediation options the township is considering to deal with toxic levels of PFCs or perfluorochemicals found in Horsham's water supply.

Water was contaminated by chemicals used on the Naval Air Base in Willow Grove. People who worked on the base and people who live nearby want to know if cancers and other illnesses are connected to the toxic water.

Township leaders say their goal is to "achieve a standard of water quality that far exceeds any other in the nation by the end of 2016."

Monday's meeting takes place one day before environmental lawyers from Weitz and Luxenberg come down from New York to meet with members of the community and military interested in learning more about the firm's investigation of PFOA and PFOS contamination. Those chemicals were used in firefighting foam on the base and have likely been in groundwater for decades.

That meeting is set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Upper Moreland High School at 3000 Terwood Road in Willow Grove.

Contact Us