Well Water Testing Information

Nov 18, 2025

General News

The Township has received information that two wells located within the 200 block of Williams Avenue have recently been tested with high levels of Nitrate and PFAS, which are contaminates that can pose health risks. Please note that after sending out the letters for the above properties to anyone within a 1000 ft of the properties, there has been other locations in the Township that have tested for levels above the acceptable levels for PFAS and other containments. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) recommends testing your well water every year.

Information regarding safe drinking water can be found in Pennsylvania Bulletin Title 25 Chapter 109 (Safe Drinking Water).

Please note that the Township does not have testing kits- you will have to contact one of the Accredited Drinking Labs that are listed on the Bucks County Health Department Website (please see the link below). Please note that the $25 test from BCHD does not test for nitrates and PFAS. Please check with each lab on what tests you are requesting- only three labs Analytical, Criterion and Surburban test for PFAS.

Some helpful tips to help others dealing with PFAS impacted water and what treatment systems to consider:

While it is overwhelming on what to do if you find out your water in impacted, here are some systems that could help eliminate the PFAS that has proven to work from one of the residents who has installed it (please note the Township is not recommending for or against any treatment systems- only providing some feedback from a resident to help others as they navigate this so residents can consider your options): Below is also some links to DEP & EPA sites for treatment systems at the bottom of this news article.
- A dual granulated activated carbon (gac) tank system will eliminate all PFAS compounds from our groundwater, at the levels they are at.
  This system costs about $3300 total installed and includes the dual gac tanks and a sediment filter. The system should last anywhere from 5-10 years with the levels in the area and the cost to replace one tank after about 5 years is $600. With the gac tanks the PFAS adsorbs to the carbon and once the tanks get spent, they are considered hazardous waste and get incinerated, along with the PFAS.
- Another system is a reverse osmosis (RO) system, but there is a downside as it can generate a ton of wastewater, and that wastewater is super concentrated in the contaminants that were removed. PFAS removed via RO all goes into the aquifer through septic system, eventually.
- Here is a link to the Penn State Extension for Resources for Well Water.

In addition, it is important with the private wells and septic systems in Wrightstown to follow these tips that can limit any containment to your wells:

Make sure to maintain your septic systems. The Township requires septic pumping every 3 years and a septic receipt from the hauler needs to be sent to the Township for proof of pumping.
Keep hazardous chemicals out of septic systems and away from your well. If there is a spill of any kind happens on your property, please make sure the hazardous material is cleaned up properly.
Be careful with any materials near your well that could cause contamination like fuel tanks, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that are used on your lawn, and swimming pool chemicals.
Also, please make sure you dispose of any hazardous materials properly. Bucks County hosts several events throughout the year (the next one is October 25^th). https://www.buckscounty.gov/444/Household-Hazardous-Waste-Recycling
Please do not dispose of any medications down the drain or in the trash. These can be dropped off at Newtown Police Department or at many pharmacy locations. The Drug Take Back will take place on October 25^th- https://www.bcdac.org/prevention/national_prescription_drug_take_back_day/