Growing concern about water contamination in Horsham, Pa.

Friday, May 20, 2016
VIDEO: Contaminated water
VIDEO: Contaminated waterPeople in parts of Montgomery and Bucks Counties are getting bottled water from the government because of a toxic situation in nearby wells.

HORSHAM, Pa. (WPVI) -- People in parts of Montgomery and Bucks Counties are getting bottled water from the government because of a toxic situation in nearby wells.

And investigators are still trying to figure out the exact cause of the problem.

"I want them to come out and test my well, and to tell me definitively whether my well is contaminated or not," said Rena Oliver of Horsham.

Contamination of the ground water in and around the former Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster leaves residents like Oliver with health concerns.

Compounds called perfluorinated chemicals used in aviation firefighting foam may have leeched into the ground water.

Because of a new EPA advisory, 16 municipal wells - five in Horsham, five in Warrington and six in Warminster - are now offline, shut down along with an estimated 80 private wells.

Ed Lutz is among those who opted for bottled water on Friday.

"I don't have the whole story yet, and if they're starting to give water away that means that we shouldn't drink the water," said Lutz of Horsham. "Where are we going? We gonna have another Flint situation?"

With the new EPA advisory, experts say the tap water from the municipal water providers is safe.

Bottled water will still be available for those on private wells.

As for possible long term health effects, there are many questions.

State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R- Montgomery) says constituents have been calling his office.

"Cause they're concerned and they should be concerned, and asking questions such as, 'What impact will this have on our children?' " said Greenleaf.

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