Aqua Pennsylvania awarded nearly $29M tot remove PFAS from drinking water

Aqua Pennsylvania announced it was awarded a combination of grant and low-interest loan funding through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to support its continuing commitment to remove PFAS from drinking water. The funding, totaling as much as $28.9M, will support 6 projects to install PFAS treatment systems at 15 community well sites in Chester, Montgomery, Lackawanna, and Luzerne Counties. The PENNVEST process requires well-planned projects, including securing a PA Department of Environmental Protection permit and other documents as a condition of approval. PENNVEST funds allow recipients like Aqua Pennsylvania to complete installation of PFAS treatment at a reduced cost to customers. “Aqua Pennsylvania is committed to working within the PENNVEST guidelines to pursue and secure funding opportunities that will cost-effectively deliver the highest quality drinking water for our customers,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. “I want to thank PENNVEST for their continued support and consideration of our projects as the funds received will help us affordably meet these state and federal regulatory requirements.” In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency set maximum contaminant levels for six PFAS chemicals in drinking water. Funding awarded by PENNVEST will move Aqua Pennsylvania closer to meeting the federal guidelines to have treatment in place by 2028, within the required timeline. “We have been at the forefront of addressing and removing ‘forever chemicals’ from drinking water for several years,” said Lucca. “We are proud to say again that we have reached full compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection PFAS drinking water standards and we remain focused on reaching the federal standards as well.”