Four years ago, PFAS contamination was discovered in random sampling of two public water wells that serviced the small population of Saegertown, Penn. The wells were shut off and the case was investigated by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). That inquiry has now led to the design and impending construction of a 5,000-sq.-ft. filtration plant to counteract PFAS in the borough’s water supply.
Saegertown secured $12.6 million in grant funding from PENNVEST, part of a broader $150-million investment from the state in water infrastructure.
Chuck Lawrence, Saegertown borough manager, shared the latest with Water Daily, describing the experience from PFAS discovery to the design for this future facility. "It's been a long process: lots and lots of testing and sending out public notices," he said. "It took a while to get the system designed, and we had to make some major changes to run the pumps all up to the reservoir, where they're treated and blended, and the water comes back in the distribution system."
The Discovery of PFAS
In October 2020, two of Saegertown’s seven wells were found to be contaminated with PFAS. The random sampling measure had been recommended by a statewide PFAS Action Team report authored in 2019.
PFAS, a group of chemicals known to be harmful to human health, posed a challenge that the borough needed to address. Lawrence explains that despite ongoing investigations by the DEP, the source of contamination remains unknown.
The two contaminated wells are located on a 4.5-acre piece of land formerly owned by the General American Transportation Company; the property had been declared a U.S. EPA Superfund Site in 1993 until a remedial action was completed in 1996, and the site was delisted in 1997.
While PFAS was not a household term in 2020, this sprawling class of chemicals has become a ubiquitous topic in the water and wastewater industries. PFAS are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because they are incredibly persistent in the environment and in the human body. They do not break down easily, meaning they can accumulate over time in soil, water, and living organisms. This persistence is what makes PFAS particularly concerning from an environmental and health perspective.
Finding Solutions: The Path to Treatment
Since the initial discovery, Saegertown has explored various ways to maintain its water supply.
The borough increased the production of the remaining wells by cleaning them and upgrading pumps. They even found a new well to put into service in the next year, but the additional capacity was limited to 15-80 gallons per minute—insufficient for the community’s needs.
After consulting with engineers and navigating through permitting challenges, Saegertown determined that building a centralized PFAS treatment facility was the most viable solution.
How the Facility Will Work
The new facility will consist of a 5,000-sq.-ft. building equipped with carbon filters specifically designed to remove PFAS. This facility will serve more than 300 households, local businesses (which support 1,300 jobs), a 250-bed nursing facility, and the Crawford County Correctional Facility.
The project will use a combination of manganese greensand filtration and high-pressure granular-activated carbon vessels, each serving a specific purpose in treating contaminated water.
Manganese greensand is a type of filtration media made by coating greensand with manganese oxide, which gives it the ability to oxidize and filter out specific contaminants like iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide. However, in this project, its primary function is to precondition the water, removing contaminants that could interfere with the more sensitive PFAS removal process. Preconditioning helps to extend the life of the granular-activated carbon (GAC) vessels by reducing the load of unwanted particles and improving the overall efficiency of the system.
The project features nine high-pressure GAC vessels, which are the primary mechanism for removing PFAS from the water supply. Granular-activated carbon has a high surface area due to its porous structure, which allows it to adsorb contaminants effectively. When water passes through these vessels, the GAC traps and binds PFAS molecules through a process called adsorption, in which contaminants stick to the surface of the carbon particles.
This technology is widely recognized for its ability to remove a range of contaminants, including organic compounds and volatile chemicals. In the case of PFAS, which are resistant to traditional filtration methods, GAC offers a cost-effective solution to remove these persistent chemicals from drinking water.
Communication and Community Engagement
Throughout the planning and implementation phases, Lawrence emphasized the importance of keeping the public informed.
Saegertown has a monthly newsletter that accompanies water bills, which has been the primary channel for updating residents on the contamination and efforts to fix the issue.
“We were proactive. We let people know, we kept them updated regularly,” Lawrence said.
Next Steps: Timeline and Construction
With final design specs nearly complete, Saegertown aims to put the project out for bidding in early 2025.
Lawrence estimates that significant construction progress will occur next year, with full completion expected by early 2026. The facility will be centrally located between the fire hall and borough building, making it accessible and strategically positioned for operations.
As PFAS contamination becomes a growing concern nationwide, Saegertown’s efforts to secure funding, collaborate with engineers, and engage the community demonstrate a proactive and well-planned response. For small towns facing similar issues, Saegertown’s approach serves as an encouraging model of resilience and proactive planning.
