OSWER/OSRTI 

Washington, DC 20460 

NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) 

***Proposed Site*** May 2014 

BAGHURST DRIVE Harleysville, Pennsylvania

Montgomery County

 Site Location:

The site is located in a rural, residential area in Southeastern Pennsylvania about 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

 Site History:

The site consists of a ground water plume contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The source of the 

VOCs is unknown. In 1999, the Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) discovered the plume when they 

sampled residential wells in the area. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) 

immediately began supplying 27 residences with bottled drinking water and subsequently equipped the homes with 

carbon filtration systems. PADEP conducted an investigation to identify the source of the contamination but were 

unable to produce definitive documentation regarding the source. The site has contaminated 27 residential drinking 

water wells, including a common well and is also affecting an additional 13-15 residential wells that have trace 

amounts of contaminants.

 Site Contamination/Contaminants:

The plume is approximately 2,500 feet long and 750 feet wide and is contaminated with VOCs: 1,1,1-trichloroethane 

(1,1,1-TCA), 1,1-dicloroethene (1,1-DCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride and 1,4-dioxane. The carbon 

filtration systems are not effectively filtering out the 1,4-dioxane and therefore the PADEP is also providing residents 

whose wells have concentrations of 1,4-dioxane exceeding the state action levels with bottled water. 

 Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment:

The site is known to have contaminated 27 residential drinking water wells, including a common well which serves 10 

residences. There are also an additional 13-15 residential wells that have trace amounts of contaminants. Although 

ground water is the principal reason for listing, there also may be vapor intrusion issues since these houses are 

overlying a contaminated ground water plume. 

 Response Activities (to date):

The EPA has performed no response actions at this site to date. PADEP has provided affected residences with carbon 

filtration systems and/or bottled water. 

 Need for NPL Listing:

The PADEP referred the site to the EPA because the plume is affecting many residences and the carbon filtration 

systems are not effectively filtering out all contaminants. A permanent alternative water supply is necessary along with 

the remediation of the underlying plume. Other cleanup alternatives were evaluated, but are not viable at this time 

because a permanent alternate source of drinking water is not readily available. The EPA received a letter of support 

for placing this site on the NPL from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may 

change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. See 56 FR 5600, February 11, 1991, or subsequent 

FR notices.]

For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to 

these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on 

the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.