WARRINGTON, PA – The Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority (BCWSA)

today announced a $17 million capital improvement project that will upgrade Upper Dublin Township’s sewer system and provide new wastewater treatment capacity to Ambler Borough.

BCWSA will construct a watertight pump station in Upper Dublin Township and install a new 12,000 linear-foot force main, a pressurized pipe that moves wastewater to a treatment plant using pumps or compressors, to Ambler Borough where the wastewater will be treated. The existing 71-year-old treatment facility in Upper Dublin, which is in a floodplain, will be taken out of service and decommissioned.

As a result of the new system upgrades being made by BCWSA, which are slated to take full effect [in March 2026], Upper Dublin Township and Ambler Borough will realize an increase in wastewater treatment capacity. Greater treatment capacity provides an opportunity for local municipalities to bring new homes and commercial sites into their systems.

“The Upper Dublin capital improvement project is another example of our commitment to making necessary upgrades to enhance an aging infrastructure on behalf of ratepayers and the communities we serve,” said Benjamin Jones, CEO of BCWSA.

BCWSA has owned and managed Upper Dublin’s sewer treatment facility since 2001.

“We are proactively relocating the existing system out of a floodplain in Upper Dublin Township in the event of a catastrophic flooding that many communities have experienced in recent years.”

The new force main will run from the site of the existing treatment facility to Ambler Borough. The project is expected to take about 18 months to complete. BCWSA is working with Joao & Bradley Construction Co. and Eastern Environmental Contractors, Inc. on the project, and plans to commence work immediately.

An October 2020 letter from Upper Dublin Township’s Manager to BCWSA stated, “There is significant development going on in Upper Dublin Township in the Fort Washington Park and elsewhere. This 67-year-old plant, while well maintained and serviced by BCWSA, is in vital need of retirement.”

“Ambler Borough has been working with Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority for the past few years to plan for the additional flow from BCWSA customers in Upper Dublin to be processed at the Ambler Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP),” said Mary Aversa, Borough Manager for the Borough of Ambler. “There are various improvements and upgrades being planned and implemented so that the flow is transferred smoothly and level of service provided is not impacted. The upgrades will be a benefit to the residents of Ambler Borough, Lower Gwynedd, Whitpain, Whitemarsh, and Upper Dublin. We will work closely with BCWSA during this transition and post updates on the Borough’s website as needed.”

Project updates will also be provided on temp.bcwsa.net/ and www.bcwsainvestments.org

The Upper Dublin project is part of BCWSA’s capital improvement campaign to make necessary infrastructure improvements across its footprint.

BCWSA requires that swimming pool or hot tub water disposed of in it’s Sanitary Sewer System have a pH between 6.0 and 9.0 standard units, a chlorine level of 0.5mg/L or less, and a temperature within 10°F of the air temperature.

WARRINGTON, PA – The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority (BCWSA) today announced it has successfully utilized innovative treatment technology to remove PFAS, known as forever chemicals, from its drinking water. The new treatment system was recently piloted at two water supply locations that had slightly elevated PFAS levels above the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s (PADEP) regulation.

BCWSA partnered with TruClear Water Solutions Inc., a Texas-based company that is a leading service provider to clean water using non-chemical technology, to operate its Advanced Molecular Oxidation (AMO) system. Using electricity to create chemical reactions, the patented system ensures a thorough destruction of PFAS chemicals and does not generate contaminates that need to be disposed after treatment.

To date, no water utility in the world has installed this system and received approval for PFAS treatment. BCWSA is currently seeking approval from the PADEP to permanently utilize the technology. Once approved, BCWSA would be the first to operate the technology to remove PFAS from drinking water.

“We are striving to make ‘forever chemicals’ no longer forever,” said John Cordisco, BCWSA Board Chairman. “We are committed to investing in this technology and eliminating potentially harmful chemicals from drinking water for Bucks County residents. It’s a remarkable moment for the county to be a leader in addressing an issue that impacts communities across the globe.

“We’ve been exploring innovative systems that could reduce and eliminate PFAS over the last two years. We believe TruClear provides a solution that is unmatched in our industry.”

The pilot was conducted at BCWSA’s Solebury and New Hope water systems. Independent laboratory results show that the technology was able to achieve over 90 percent reduction in PFAS chemicals, with some instances approaching 100 percent reduction. The testing results will be sent to the DEP to review and to allow the installation of a permanent system, which would be managed and operated by TruClear Solutions with a local workforce.

TruClear Solutions launched its AMO technology in 2018 within the oil and gas industry. Since then, it has utilized the system to treat water across many industries. Last year, it realized the need for the technology in drinking water treatment and started reaching out to those in the industry where it connected with BCWSA.

“Our mission is to treat water without chemicals or heat, producing minimal waste back into the environment,” said John Ayers, President and Chief Executive Officer for TruClear Solutions.  “We deliver a ‘green solution’ and purer end-product while reducing treatment and transportation costs.

Ayers continued, “BCWSA conducted their research and due diligence. The independent lab results provide confidence that our system is reliable and effective, ensuring compliance that surpasses federal and state regulations.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established health advisory levels for PFAS in drinking water, including PFOA and PFOS. The PA DEP has established its own regulated levels that are stricter than many other states, and it is likely to lower the limits even further.

“We know municipal and privately-owned water systems across Pennsylvania will be monitoring the progress of our DEP permitting,” said Cordisco. “We’re proud to be out front of the issue and leading the way for our industry.”

Here are a few helpful tips to limit your water consumption and of course, save you money:

• Run the dishwasher and clothes washer only when fully loaded.
• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running water over it.
• When washing dishes by hand, use two basins – one for washing and one for rinsing rather than let the water run.
• Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Dripping faucets can waste about 2,000 gallons of water each year. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons each day.
• Use low-flow faucets, shower heads, reduced-flow toilet flushing equipment, and water saving appliances such as dish and clothes washers.
• Check for leaky toilets. You can test your toilet for a leak by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet leaks, color will appear in the toilet bowl within 15 minutes
• You can reduce the amount of water an older toilet uses by placing a half gallon plastic jug in the tank.
• Take a look at your water meter while no water is being used in your house. If it goes up, you obviously have a problem! This can also help you locate underground service leaks.
• Take short showers instead of baths and avoid letting faucets run unnecessarily.
• Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run while you wait for cool water.