NATIONAL PARK PFAS TREATMENT

National Park Borough recently completed drinking water improvements that are being financed with approximately $778,370 in loans from the NJ Water Bank, a low-rate funding program jointly administered by the DEP and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (the "I-Bank"). This project was highly prioritized given that it mitigates per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS or forever chemicals) and serves a relatively small population. As a result, the project qualified for principal forgiveness totaling $385,332. Including interest cost savings, total savings for this project is estimated to be $687,376 over the 20-year term of the loan or 88% of the total project cost. In addition, this project created an estimated 9 direct construction jobs. 

This project addresses one of the emerging health issues in drinking water by constructing a building to house a new granulated activated carbon (GAC) filter to reduce Perfluoro-nonanoic Acid (PFNA) concentrations in the drinking water supply. PFNA is a PFAS chemical commonly used in a wide range of industrial processes and found in many consumer products. PFAS persist in the environment for long periods of time and make their way into soil, water, and air. They infiltrate surface water and groundwater penetrating the water supply and adversely affect drinking water quality. The new GAC treatment will assist with the removal of PFNA from the water supply/distribution system to protect human health and achieve compliance with State and Federal Safe Drinking Water Standards. The project also addressed the NJDEP notice of violation for exceeding allowable PFAS levels.

Dennis Burke, Mayor of National Park Borough, stressed the need for the project. "This GAC filter system is a small price to pay for the health of our community and the NJ Water Bank has saved us a lot of money in the long run. The financing of this project has made us healthy and wealthy because we were wise enough to take advantage of the attractive financing available through the NJ Water Bank."

This project was designed by T&M Associates and constructed by Quad Construction.