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Boyertown Area SD moves to formalize PFAS treatment at Gilbertsville Elementary using ion-exchange resin
Summary
District staff reported that resin-based ion-exchange media is expected to remove PFAS/PFOA effectively and may last about 10 years; the board asked for separate professional-services and equipment proposals (estimated total project ≈ $30,000) and directed staff to return cost and timeline details.
The Boyertown Area School District’s facilities team on Monday outlined plans to install a PFAS/PFOA treatment system at Gilbertsville Elementary, recommending ion-exchange resin over traditional activated carbon because it requires less contact time and smaller vessels.
Mr. Crum of Suburban Water Technology told the committee that Resintech modeled the water chemistry and estimated the treatment media “should last us around 10 years,” a lifespan he described as “amazing” given the low PFAS levels the district has recorded. Crum said resin costs more per cubic foot than carbon but requires far less volume, which reduces vessels, mechanical parts and long-term maintenance needs.
The presentation noted the district’s Middle School West chiller work and other facilities maintenance will continue as staff pursue treatment at Gilbertsville. Crum said the system could be installed over the summer after the district approves a formal proposal and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) completes its permit review. He said the DEP permit timeline can be a limiting factor but that equipment is “readily available” and could be on-site within days once permissions are granted.
Board members pressed for more detail on costs and procurement. The administration estimated a roughly $30,000 project and recommended separate proposals for professional engineering services and for equipment/installation so that the professional-services piece would not trigger competitive bidding or prevailing-wage thresholds. The board asked for the two-part formal proposal to be returned at the next meeting.
Committee members discussed interim options. Crum said the district currently tests PFAS quarterly and that levels at Gilbertsville were about 8.4 parts per trillion — well below the DEP’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) but still detectable. He recommended two interim options if levels rise: request an emergency DEP permit to accelerate installation or provide bottled water temporarily. He also said inline bottle-fill stations and attachable fountain filters that reduce PFAS are available at modest cost and could serve as a stopgap.
The administration noted it has capital-project funds available to pay for the installation and that staff would bring a formal, itemized proposal back to the board for approval. The committee did not take a formal vote on the installation during the meeting.
Next steps: staff will ask Suburban Water Technology to provide a written, two-part proposal (professional services and equipment/installation), with cost breakdowns and a projected timeline to install the system over the summer pending DEP permitting.
