Aqua Pennsylvania announced it has secured $16.9 million in financing through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to support the installation of five PFAS treatment systems serving nine community well sites across Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery counties.
The company said the package includes a mix of principal forgiveness loans and low-interest loans and is intended to help Aqua Pennsylvania meet new federal drinking water requirements for PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” while limiting the cost impact to customers. Aqua Pennsylvania said it is already in full compliance with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection PFAS drinking water standards.
Aqua Pennsylvania said the planned treatment systems are expected to benefit nearly 16,000 customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. The affected well sites include Peddler’s View Well in Solebury Township (Bucks County); Hunt Country Well in East Goshen Township and Deer Run Well in Honey Brook Township (Chester County); and multiple sites in Montgomery County, including Oreland Well in Springfield Township, Flourtown Well serving Cheltenham and Whitemarsh townships, Cranberry Wells #3 and #4 in Perkiomen Township, Rahns Well in Perkiomen Township, Meyers Tract Well in Perkiomen Township, and Ivy Ridge Well in Upper Frederick Township.
Construction on the treatment facilities is expected to be completed in late winter 2027, the company said.
Aqua Pennsylvania also highlighted its recent history of tapping PENNVEST support for infrastructure upgrades. Over the past five years, the utility said it has obtained $207.9 million in PENNVEST principal forgiveness and low-interest loan funding for infrastructure improvement projects, including nearly $108 million directed to PFAS treatment efforts across the state.
Aqua Pennsylvania provides water and wastewater service to about 1.5 million people across 33 Pennsylvania counties. The utility is part of Essential Utilities, Inc., which operates under the Aqua and Peoples brands and serves about 5.5 million people across nine states. Essential Utilities is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker WTRG.
KEY QUOTE:
“Aqua Pennsylvania is committed to removing ‘forever chemicals’ from drinking water and we want to honor that commitment by reducing the financial burden to our customers. I want to thank PENNVEST for its continued support. These funding opportunities allow us to aggressively tackle PFAS and cost-effectively deliver the highest quality drinking water to the communities we serve.”
Marc Lucca, President, Aqua Pennsylvania
