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Council hears Walnut Grove PFAS concerns; borough testing near airport reported negative
Summary
Council members discussed reported water pollution in Walnut Grove Estates linked to PFAS from airport training foam. Borough officials said authority testing near the airport has been negative and DEP is involved in a consent‑order process.
Council member Rita raised concerns about possible groundwater contamination in Walnut Grove Estates in Benner Township and asked whether the plume might reach borough water supplies. Rita asked the council to invite an expert to explain the situation and potential impacts.
Council member Doug Johnson and borough staff said training use of PFAS‑containing firefighting foam at the airport had been required in the past and that runoff from that use reached nearby areas. Doug Johnson said the airport authority had conducted sampling and, to his knowledge, the borough authority’s tests around the airport had been negative. Borough staff and the borough manager recommended Penn State or DEP as technical sources for detailed hydrogeologic assessment.
Ralph Stewart, the borough manager, added that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is engaged and that a consent order with responsible parties is under review; he said communities covered by that process can expect remediation measures such as public water extensions or repairs as part of settlement actions.
Why it matters: PFAS contamination can affect drinking water systems and may require legal and engineering remedies; council members asked for more information and clarification from technical and regulatory agencies.
