Clean fix for tainted well water

Homes in East Pikeland Township long plagued by PCE-contaminated wells will receive public water through a private-government partnership.

Pennsylvania American Water, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and East Pikeland Township announced an agreement yesterday that will bring public water service to 17 residences, a news release said.

Since 2000, DEP has been providing bottled water and maintaining in-home water treatment systems to the residents along Camp Council Road, where the chemical PCE was discovered, the release said. The approximately $260,000 project will extend the water main from Pennsylvania American Water's adjacent system to supply the affected residents. "DEP is pleased to be a partner in this project," Southeast Regional Director Joseph A. Feola said.   "Extension of the East Pikeland water line will ensure a clean and safe drinking water supply to these impacted residents."

Under the agreement, Pennsylvania American Water is contributing approximately $106,000 toward the project, with a grant from DEP subsidizing the remainder of the construction costs. The residents will become Pennsylvania American Water customers once the pipeline is completed. Starting next week, crews will install approximately 850 feet of 10-inch iron pipe along Camp Council Road to extend service to the affected homes, with limited traffic disruptions during construction. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by the end of November, the release said.