Aqua Pennsylvania Secures up to $6.7 Million PENNVEST Grant for PFAS Treatment Facility Serving 25,000 People in Bucks County

Funding is part of Aqua’s commitment to remove “forever chemicals” to meet new federal standard; alleviates associated costs for ratepayers.

Aqua Pennsylvania announced today it has secured grant funding through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to construct PFAS treatment at its Edgely Water Treatment facility in Bristol Township. The grant, which provides funding up to $6.7 million, will allow Aqua Pennsylvania to complete the installation of this treatment at no cost to Aqua customers.

This new facility will provide additional treatment that will remove PFAS from drinking water for about 25,000 people in Bristol Township and Bristol Borough. Aqua will install six 7-foot diameter filter vessels that will use an ion exchange media to remove PFAS and meet regulatory limits.

“We’ve been working for years on testing and removing PFAS from drinking water in the communities we serve in Pennsylvania, setting an aggressive removal target before regulations existed and now continuing to lead the way in this work to meet the new regulations,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. “This project highlights our commitment to our customers as well as our efforts to seek alternative funding to mitigate the cost impact on customers.”

Aqua’s Edgely facility treats water from nine groundwater wells in Bristol Township and Bristol Borough. Aqua was able to temporarily turn off the facility until treatment could be built. During that time, Aqua ensured uninterrupted customer service by bringing drinking water from other local sources, specifically its Bristol Water Treatment plant, which treats water from the Delaware River.

Construction on the facility is scheduled to begin in July.

About Aqua Pennsylvania 

Aqua Pennsylvania serves approximately 1.5 million people in 32 counties throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Visit Aquawater.com for more information or follow Aqua on Facebook at facebook.com/MyAquaWater and on X at @MyAquaWater.

About Essential 

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across nine states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at www.essential.co.

Forward-Looking Statements 

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which generally include words such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and similar expressions. The Company can give no assurance that any actual or future results or events discussed in these statements will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements represent its views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the statements contained in this release. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the capital to be invested in Aqua’s water and wastewater infrastructure, that it will continue to seek and receive grants and low-interest loans, and that it will receive its requested rate increase. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including the factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please refer to the Company’s annual, quarterly and other SEC filings. The Company is not under any obligation - and expressly disclaims any such obligation - to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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