New testing near the closed Boyertown Landfill in Douglass Township has revealed dangerously high levels of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in soil, surface water and dozens of private wells, far exceeding the federal safety standard of 4 parts per trillion. The site, which operated from the 1950s to 1987 and accepted municipal and industrial waste, also contains other contaminants, such as trichloroethene, chlorinated solvents, pesticides, metals and 1,4-dioxane. In response, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has installed home water treatment systems, provided bottled water, and continues extensive testing. The federal Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a site assessment to determine whether the landfill will be designated a Superfund site. Despite over $1 million already spent on mitigation, officials acknowledge that a long-term solution — potentially extending public water to affected homes — remains uncertain, and the full scope and health impacts of the contamination are still being evaluated.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 12/12/2025 & Pottstown Patch; 12/15/2025