FAQ for Main Lower South Water System Public Notice – October 2026

Water samples exceeded EPA’s Health Advisory Level in the Middletown Township area near the intersection of Woodbourne Road and Lincoln Highway.

This is NOT an emergency situation, and you may continue to drink the water. 

 

BCWSA works diligently to deliver the highest quality drinking water to its customers.  We invest in replacing and upgrading aging infrastructure and continuously make improvements to ensure that we meet upcoming water regulations.  While we work to maintain high water quality standards, certain circumstances beyond our control may occasionally affect the water quality.  One such situation occurred in the Main Lower South Water System and a public notice was issued.  A copy of the public notice can be found here.

 

Why was a public notice issued?

Laboratory results indicated levels of a particular haloacetic acid (HAA) were above acceptable levels. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) requires us to collect HAA samples on a quarterly basis, however BCWSA collects these samples on a monthly basis to give us a better idea of the levels of these compounds in our system, as they are constantly changing. Compliance is based on a locational running annual average (LRAA) of the quarterly results. 

During the third quarter of 2026, monthly samples were collected and analyzed. When the LRAAs were calculated, one location had an LRAA for Trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) that exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lifetime Health Advisory Level (HAL) of 20ppb.  Public notice was issued on October 9, 2026 for this exceedance.

 

Am I in the area affected by this public notice?

If you receive water from BCWSA and reside in Middletown Township near the intersection of Woodbourne Road and Lincoln Highway, then you are within the affected area. If you are unsure if this notice applies to you, please call us at 215-343-2538 to determine if you are within the service area affected by this notice.

 

Why is there a drinking water violation?

Chlorine is added to drinking water to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. When it reacts with naturally occurring materials in the water, it can form chemicals called disinfection byproducts (DBPs), including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs).

The EPA sets limits on these chemicals and requires quarterly testing. Compliance is determined by averaging results from the previous four quarters at each testing location. A single elevated reading can raise the annual average, even when results in the other three quarters are lower. This is what happened during the third quarter testing results.

 

What is the Health Advisory Level (HAL) for Trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) and what was the leve in my water that exceeded this number?

The HAL for TCAA is 20ppb.  The TCAA results for the location that exceeded the HAL are shown in the table below.     

 

What is Trichloroacetic acid (TCAA)?

Trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) is one of five haloacetic acids (HAAs) that may be found in drinking water. These chemicals form when chlorine, which is added to kill harmful bacteria and other microorganisms, reacts with naturally occurring organic materials in the water.

HAA levels can vary from day to day and throughout the year. Factors that affect these levels include the season, water temperature, how long water remains in the system, the amount of chlorine used, and the amount of organic material in the source water.   

 

What are the health effects of TCAA?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers TCAA to be a potential human carcinogen. Human studies have yet to confirm that TCAA exposure increases the risk of cancer. Human exposure to TCAA directly occurs through consumption.  It is slightly absorbed through the skin and does not vaporize into the air at bathing water temperature.  Therefore, the potential health hazard is mainly from water that is used for drinking and cooking.

Long-term exposure to haloacetic acids (HAAs) above the EPA’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 60 parts per billion (ppb) may increase cancer risk. Risk is associated with sustained exposure above the limit over many years, not a single elevated reading. HAAs are eliminated from the body within one day to two weeks, depending on the specific compound.

Short-term effects are not likely due to HAA exposure. When concentrated, HAAs have irritant and corrosive properties to the skin and eyes. However, the concentrations that form from disinfection of drinking water are diluted. For example, the concentration of TCAA found is about one million times weaker than the concentration of TCAA used in products for cosmetic skin peels. 

 

What should I do?

There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to use an alternative or bottled water supply.  You do not need to boil your water. If you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.

 

What is BCWSA doing about this?

Our source for the water in this portion of the system is supplied by Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (LBCJMA). LBCJMA issued a public notice for their exceedance of TCAA on September 9, 2026. In their public notice, LBCJMA stated they are investigating potential cause(s) of the problem and anticipate resolving the issue within six months. BCWSA will be following up with LBCJMA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for the results of LBCJMA’s investigation and any changes made to their treatment processes.   

 

Where can I get more information?

If you’d like to do some research on the web, the American Water Works Association has a website at www.drinktap.org that has some information on DBPs.  You can also find information on EPA’s website at www.epa.gov.   Information specific to Pennsylvania’s drinking water regulations can be found on PA DEP’s website under the Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at https://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Water/BureauSafeDrinkingWater/Pages/default.aspx