- A recent study showed four Lehigh Valley streams are contaminated by PFAS
- The study was conducted by the state Department of Environmental protection and the U.S. Geological Survey
- One of the Valley's municipalities is already working to mitigate contamination
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh Valley streams have a PFAS problem, and researchers say development is to blame.
“Concentrations in [the Lehigh Valley] region were, on average, higher than those for all 161 study streams, which is expected because the five streams … are surrounded by high development,” said Sara Breitmeyer, a chemist with the U.S. Geological Survey. “Some of the highest concentrations of total PFAS in our study were found in the Philadelphia area and other highly developed and urbanized areas.”
The state Department of Environmental Protection and the USGS last week released the results of a 2019 survey studying the prevalence and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in surface waters across the commonwealth. Of the 161 streams tested — including five in the Valley — 76% contained at least one type of PFAS. In response, state officials are planning a monitoring program to help find sources in an effort to tamp down contamination.
PFAS are manufactured chemicals that have been used in consumer products since the 1940s, but have been nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they are incredibly slow to break down once introduced into the environment, and can contaminate groundwater. PFAS have been linked to a variety of health problems, including liver and immune-system damage and some cancers.
Rich Negrin, secretary of the state DEP, said there is still “a great deal” to learn about PFAS, but the commonwealth has been a “proactive leader” in addressing water quality issues.
“Our findings have already helped, and will continue to help guide DEP’s actions regarding where to focus resources on identifying, tracking and addressing potential sources of PFAS contamination.”Rich Negrin, secretary of the state DEP
“This joint venture produced the first study of its kind in the nation, and associates PFAS in surface waters across a state with upstream activities that might be sources of the contaminant,” Negrin said in a news release. “This study has expanded our understanding, and will assist in determining what steps need to be taken in addressing issues associated with this emerging contaminant.
“Our findings have already helped, and will continue to help guide DEP’s actions regarding where to focus resources on identifying, tracking and addressing potential sources of PFAS contamination.”
‘Not surprising’
The five streams sampled across Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties included: the Jordan Creek in Allentown, which was found to have 28.8 nanograms per liter; the Lehigh River at Glendon, which was found to have 30.3 nanograms per liter; the Delaware River near Richmond, Northampton County, was found to have 2.1 nanograms per liter; and the Aquashicola Creek at Palmerton was found to have 18.4 nanograms per liter.
The Lehigh River this year was included on a list of endangered rivers across the country — researchers said it's threatened by “poorly planned development” of warehouses and distribution centers.
Only one stream tested in the region was labeled “nd” to show that no PFAS were detected. That was in the Wild Crab Penn Forest Reservoir, near Kresgeville, in Carbon County.
“Maximum concentrations occurred in areas that had potential sources of PFAS such as military bases, water pollution control facilities, electronics manufacturing and petroleum refining,” said Breitmeyer, the lead author of the study. “Results of stream PFAS concentrations were not surprising because PFAS detected in this study are similar to what others have detected near wastewater treatment plants, military bases and industrial facilities.”
Water pollution control and electronic manufacturing facilities were the primary sources associated with total PFAS contamination, she said.
“We were surprised to discover that the highest levels of total PFAS were associated with electronics manufacturing in the local watershed,” she said. “For the five sites in [the Lehigh Valley] there was only one stream that had electronics manufacturing facilit[ies] in the local watershed, the Lehigh River at Glendon had two electronics manufacturing facilities.”
Of the five streams, four had water pollution control facilities in the local watershed, she said.
“The Lehigh River at Glendon had 97, Jordan Creek at mouth at Allentown had 20, Aquashicola Cr[eek] at Palmerton had 10 and Delaware River near Richmond had 16 water pollution control facilities in the local watershed,” she said. “More targeted studies could be (and some currently are being) planned to identify whether associations exist between PFAS contamination and types of water pollution control or electronics manufacturing facilities, and respective wastewater treatment techniques.”
In response to the study, DEP officials said they’ve updated the agency’s strategy for monitoring surface water for PFAS and are taking more frequent samples in areas of concern.
The state has already moved to impose limits on PFAs contamination.
In mid-March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposal to set nationwide maximum levels of PFAS allowable in public drinking water. The announcement came about three months after Pennsylvania adopted new regulations, but the EPA’s are almost four times lower.
‘Great news’
At least one Lehigh Valley municipality has already taken steps to clean up PFAS contamination, and are working on getting the funds to start work.
In May, officials in Emmaus decided to treat affected borough wells, which could cost between $24 million to $30 million over 20 years.
Borough Manager Shane Pepe said the project is still in the engineering phase, but the state Department of Environmental Protection has “has agreed that we would be eligible to apply for an emergency permit, which will potentially move our installation of a treatment system up by at least six months, which is great news.”
It moves the project timeline up to a year and a half rather than two years.
“We received a $32,000 grant for the engineering for the permit. After the permit is awarded, we will finish engineering and will apply for grant funding for the $16 million capital project.”Shane Pepe, borough manager for Emmaus
“We received a $32,000 grant for the engineering for the permit,” Pepe said. “After the permit is awarded, we will finish engineering and will apply for grant funding for the $16 million capital project.”
Borough officials know how their water was contaminated with PFAS, pointing to firefighting foam that was used for decades at the Klines Lane firefighting training grounds.
More funding could come in the form of a nationwide settlement from 3M Co. – the borough took part in a lawsuit over PFAS-contaminated drinking water. In June, the company announced it had reached a $10.3 billion settlement with U.S. drinking water systems, payable over 13 years.
“We are in the process of analyzing the offer from 3M and one other company,” said Pepe. “In fact, we recently completed an information sheet to allow our attorneys to analyze what the potential payout might be.
“At this point, we are being advised not to accept the settlement, however, a full analysis is needed.”
At the end of last year, 3M officials announced they would stop manufacturing PFAS and “discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025.”
