Nearly four years after first getting flagged, a Burlington County town is still serving drinking water that breaks New Jersey’s safety standard for a toxic chemical.
Florence Township’s water system remains out of compliance with the state’s limit for perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, according to a public notice.
PFOA falls under a group of man-made chemicals found in non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, and stain-resistant coatings, that don’t break down easily and travel swiftly through water once exposed.
Around 4,000 households are affected, Township Administrator Thomas Sahol told NJ.com. A water sample from June put the system’s annual average at 0.0165 parts per billion—above the state’s cap of 0.014.
This isn’t a new issue for the town. Levels first exceeded the limit back in September 2022, and the township had until Sept. 20, 2023 to fix it under state law. Sahol says the shift happened after the state tightened its PFOA limit—not because the water itself changed. He said it met the old standard for years, just not the tightened one
Why It Matters
Long-term exposure to PFOA above the safe threshold has been linked to changes in blood cholesterol, immune system problems, and issues with the liver, kidneys, and reproductive system, according to information outlined in the notice. It can also increase the risk of certain cancers such as kidney and testicular. Increased exposure during pregnancy can lead to developmental delays.
The state’s health department has specific guidance because of this: use bottled water for infant formula, pregnant or nursing women should also drink only bottled water. Elderly or immunocompromised individuals should talk to a doctor before drinking the tap water.
The real kicker: boiling will not help. PFOA does not cook out.
Florence Township is on the case. The contaminated well has been taken offline and township officials have monitored what’s entering the system over the last three years. A permanent treatment plant is now in early design.
Construction is expected to wrap by Dec. 31, 2027, according to the statement.
Until then, Florence Township residents should be aware that their tap water exceeds New Jersey’s safety standard for PFOA. Increased exposure could come with adverse side effects.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.