New arsenic standards force costly upgrades in city water treatment systems

December 2006

U.S. Water News Online

DOYLESTOWN, Pa.-- New federal standards have forced authorities in Bucks County to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to reduce the amount of naturally occurring arsenic in their water systems.

A federal law enacted in January cuts the amount of arsenic allowed in drinking water from 50 parts per billion to 10. At least seven communities and three schools have water supplies that test above the new limit.

But Michael Brzezecki, superintendent of Quakertown's water department, said the arsenic levels are not cause for alarm.

"The standard was 50 ppb for years," he said. "Just because they suddenly lowered it to 10 doesn't mean you're going to die. The water is the same as it's always been."

The areas with drinking water that tested above the 10 ppb level include Hilltown, Perkasie, Quakertown, Richland, Sellersville, Solebury, Telford. Levels -- which can fluctuate -- range from 11 in Quakertown and Richland to the 40s in Palisades and Sellersville.

Also above the new limit are wells that serve Palisades High School (20 ppb), Durham-Nockamixon Elementary (27 ppb) and Palisades Middle (40 ppb).

David Keppel, school district facilities manager, said the district recently installed six tanks at a cost of about $110,000 to treat the schools' wells. The contractor reported arsenic has essentially been eliminated, he said.

Arsenic enters drinking water supplies from natural deposits in the earth, a problem that state officials say especially affects the Central and Upper Bucks region.

"The geology that makes up the physical structure of this part of the state contributes to the elevated arsenic level," said Dennis Harney, a regional spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. "Just about any municipality around Route 202 or to the north could be affected."

In some cases, the added costs will be passed on to customers. The spending includes:

 

  • An estimated $1.1 million, of which $250,000 will come from a grant, by the Perkasie Borough Authority for three 10-foot-high arsenic removal tanks and a new 1,000-square-foot building to contain them. Authority manager Gary Winton said that will be part of a likely 7 percent rate increase for the 4,100 customers next year.

     

  • A $500,000 treatment system, with $230,000 to be paid by a grant, for Sellersville and West Rockhill residents for a system expected to be in place by next summer. Borough manager Alan Rick said a rate hike is likely to cover several recent upgrades.

     

  • An $800,000 system, partially funded by a $330,000 grant, will also be completed by summer to help the Telford Borough Authority treat two wells, borough manager Mark D. Fournier said. Water rates for the 3,600 customers might increase but not as a result of arsenic, authorities said.

     

  • A $700,000 arsenic removal system was recently installed by the Hilltown Water and Sewer Authority, which serves about 2,000 customers in Hilltown and Silverdale, authority manager Jim Groff said. The sole well affected is now meeting the standard, and a water rate increase is not expected, he said.

 

  • A $925,000 treatment system the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority built to reduce arsenic in two wells will cost $15,000 to $20,000 a year to maintain, but no rate increase is expected for the 1,500 customers in Solebury, authority spokesman Patrick Cleary said.

 

  • A filtration system to be built by the Richland Township Water Authority by the end of next year will likely cost about $250,000, but could cost another $150,000 if a new building is needed, executive director Tim Arnold. The water that tested above the level is now below the 10 ppb standard, but the system will ensure it stays there, and no rate increase for the nearly 2,000 customers is expected, he said.

 

  • Quakertown, which has 12,800 customers in the borough and Richland, plans to improve the performance of arsenic filters and possibly add other chemicals to the filtration, all at minimal cost, Brzezecki said.


Return to the U.S. Water News' Archives page
Or
Return to the U.S. Water News Homepage

Editor@uswaternews.com

 

Forward this article to a friend:

*Your Name:  

*Your Email:  

*Friend's Email:  

Use a comma to separate e-mail addresses:

*Your Comments:

 

 

*Required Fields