Public Water, Sewer Coming for Some with Tainted Wells

After roughly two years of testing, meetings and discussion, about 40 Horsham homeowners whose wells tested positive for contamination cleared the final hurdle for connecting to public water and sewer. 

The Horsham Township Council on Wednesday night approved the Horsham Water and Sewer Authority's plan regarding water and sewer line extensions for residents of Limekiln Pike and Davis Grove and Park roads, the sites of PCE contamination first discovered about two years ago.

The governing body approved the construction of both water and sewer lines, which will cost $669,000 and $410,000, respectively, according to Township Manager Bill Walker. 

The Department of Environmental Protection has agreed to cover the costs associated with connecting the homeowners to water, but sewer connection has never been part of DEP's planned funding. Instead, each of the homeowners connecting will be assessed for a portion of the connection cost, Walker said. 

"Sewer was never going to be covered by DEP," Walker said. "The residents were aware that sewer is coming with the project."

Meanwhile, the DEP's investigation is ongoing at nearby Midfield Drive and Park Road, where, earlier this year, a homeowner detected Dichloroethylene, or DCE, when testing the property’s well.

Once the "preliminary investigation" concludes, Walker said DEP will hold a series of public meetings to report the findings. Like the current two-year time frame, which is nearing completion following Wednesday's council action, Walker said he expects the DEP to follow the "same process" over a roughly two-year period.