EMMAUS, Pa. — Borough council this week awarded $7.1 million in contracts for work to remediate two PFAS-contaminated wells – a price tag much less than officials estimated.
“The overall project was projected to be $11.8 million,” said Shane Pepe, borough manager. “Because the construction bids have come in much lower than anticipated, we believe the project's total cost, with engineering, construction management, etc., will be just under $10 million.”
Council awarded the contracts during its Tuesday night meeting for the project, which focuses on two of the borough’s wells at 101 Klines Lane, including one that’s been offline since PFAS contamination was discovered.
In total, the borough has four wells in need of remediation.
"The winning bids included: $4,426,660 for general construction from Worth and Company; $269, 282 for plumbing construction from The Warko Group; $261,146 for mechanical/HVAC, also from The Warko Group; and $1,017,460 for electrical from North End Electric.Shane Pepe, borough manager
The winning bids included: $4,426,660 for general construction from Worth and Co.; $269, 282 for plumbing construction from The Warko Group; $261,146 for mechanical/HVAC, also from The Warko Group; and $1,017,460 for electrical from North End Electric.
Council also awarded Gannett Fleming, a Lehigh County-based engineering firm, the consulting contract for construction management.
That contract is for $1.15 million and includes: closing and administration of Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, or PENNVEST, funding; fabrication, programming and testing control panels; completion of the wastewater planning module; and providing a resident project representative on site for the duration of construction.
All are contingent upon final review by the borough’s solicitor.
Project funding, costs
The total cost of the project will be covered by PENNVEST funding, Pepe said.
Last month, the borough was awarded a $9,731,255 grant and a $2,048,745 loan through PENNVEST, part of a $288.2 million infusion for 39 drinking water, wastewater and other projects across two dozen counties.
With the project’s cost lower than anticipated, the PENNVEST money will decrease proportionally, Pepe said.
“In other words, the initial grant was $9.8 million and the loan was $2 million,” he said. “Therefore, the grant was 83% of the entire funding.
“So, if the project goes down to $10 million, the grant will be for $8,300,000 and the loan will be for $1,700,000, essentially.”
The borough has already submitted purchase orders for tanks from Calgon Carbon, a PFAS remediation company. Four of them need to be installed, and an entire complex built to house them.
In addition to the up-front costs, there’s yearly upkeep and maintenance, too — about $100,000 a year.
The most recent estimate for remediation of the borough’s other two wells was $6 million, with $1 million in engineering costs alone.
What are forever chemicals?
PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals, are incredibly slow to break down once introduced into the environment, and can contaminate groundwater.
They’re prevalent and found in products ranging from drinking water to food, household and personal care products, and have been linked to a variety of health problems, including liver and immune-system damage and some cancers.
Emmaus’ efforts to remediate its four wells have been costly and well-documented, after firefighting foam used for decades at the Klines Lane firefighting training grounds, as well as other locations, was found to be the source of PFAS contamination.
In 2023, Emmaus Borough Council voted unanimously to treat its wells, which officials estimated could cost $24 million to $30 million over 20 years.
In December, Borough Council approved, in a 6-1 vote, a 26% tax increase for 2025. Reasons for the hike included health care rates, workers’ compensation, electricity, natural gas and refuse collection, net pension funds and fire tax, as well as PFAS remediation.
