Aqua Pennsylvania wins approval to add PFAS treatment at Neshaminy plant

Aqua Pennsylvania and its consultants presented and the board approved preliminary and final land‑development plans April 13 for upgrades at the Neshaminy Water Treatment Plant that add a PFAS treatment system.

Attorney Gina Gerber introduced the project and said the work is intended to comply with upcoming EPA mandates. Project engineer Janie Jordan described demolition of a circular basin, construction of a pumping station, a PFAS treatment building to house treatment vessels, and a new storage tank. Jordan said the work will not increase site staff and that construction is scheduled to complete in 2028, ahead of 2029 regulatory deadlines.

Residents asked how PFAS would be removed and handled after filtration. An engineer explained that PFAS is captured on carbon filter media; used media is removed and shipped to a vendor (Calgon) for reactivation/incineration at off‑site facilities. When a resident asked, "Where will you put the PFAS contaminated carbon?" the representative replied, "That's taken away by Calgon… they reactivate it by putting it in high temperature furnaces and kind of burn it off." The consultant added the project team will pursue PENNVEST funding to offset costs.

Before voting, staff noted the land‑development application had planning commission recommendation and only two waivers requested (concurrent preliminary/final approval and no landscaping plan). Chair moved to grant preliminary and final approval with standard conditions: compliance with the Middletown Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and zoning requirements and resolution of remaining review comments. The motion passed, 5–0.

Next steps: applicant will address outstanding review comments, proceed to bidding (work anticipated to start soon), and coordinate funding and construction oversight with township staff and consultants.