Bucks County Jet Fuel Crisis: homeowners face uncertainty as recovery well drilling looms

The Brief

• Reeling from a pipeline leak that spilled jet fuel into their drinking water, people in one Bucks County community continue to demand answers.
• The leak was detected in January, however, several locals claim they smelled gasoline in their water supply since the autumn of 2023.
• On Tuesday evening, the firm responsible for the breach announced intentions to implement further measures aimed at resolving the issue.

UPPER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Residents of a Bucks County neighborhood report having more queries than clarity as the firm responsible for a pipeline leakage that discharged jet fuel plans to install recovery wells within their area.

What they're saying

"Being cooped up together for months feels like sitting on a time bomb; each time we approach our water supply, we're filled with worry—it’s taken quite a toll on everyone," Kimberly Smith stated.

The residents of Upper Makefield are growing increasingly impatient as they deal with a leak from a Sunoco jet fuel pipeline that occurred beneath their community, stirring considerable frustration.

Kimberly Smith, a homeowner, remarked, "When will we comprehend how fuel was actually distributed throughout our community since nobody seems to have addressed this?"

More questions than answers

At the most recent gathering, homeowners posed numerous queries rather than receiving concrete responses from authorities. This occurred as they continue to grapple with regaining stability in their daily routines following revelations in January about an underground leak beneath their community involving a lengthy Sunoco jet fuel pipeline. Residents had initially become aware of this issue due to detecting fuel odors and tastes in their drinking water.

"We still don’t know how much fuel was leaked in the neighborhood," one homeowner stated.

As drilling begins to extract as much fuel as feasible, residents are contemplating the disruption this will cause – with road closures, excavations, and lengthy diversions around the construction sites, potentially disrupting daily life for an extended period.

A different homeowner stated, "Given the disturbance and hassle, they ought to be obligated to provide each homeowner a payment ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 as an inconvenience or disruption fee."

What's next

Additional meetings are scheduled with all the participating companies. homeowners also recognize that further difficulties lie ahead.