Chem-Fab

Overview

Chem Fab, Inc. ran an electroplating and metal etching operation on N. Broad Street in Doylestown, Pennsylvania from the mid-1960s to the late 1970s. Chemicals stored and disposed of on-site seeped into the ground, contaminating soil and groundwater. The site was added to the EPA's National Priorities List in 2008 and is now in active cleanup across four operable units.

More than 80 chemicals have been identified as contaminants of concern. These include volatile organic compounds such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, and vinyl chloride. Heavy metals include lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic. Chlorinated solvents, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are also present. More recently, PFAS compounds, specifically perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), were found in two private drinking water wells. Contamination affects soil, groundwater, soil gas, sediment, and surface water.

Cleanup has been ongoing for decades. In 1990, EPA connected affected homes and businesses to city water. In 1994, EPA removed 117 drums of chemicals and about 8,400 gallons of liquid waste. Contaminated soil at 300 North Broad was excavated and disposed of off-site between 2012 and 2014. A groundwater extraction and treatment system is now built and processes roughly 25 million gallons of contaminated groundwater each year. Vapor intrusion mitigation systems have been installed to keep volatile organic vapors from entering buildings. In September 2025, EPA issued an interim decision connecting the two PFAS-impacted private wells to the public water line. A December 2023 decision addresses remaining soil, sediment, surface water, and vapor intrusion issues, with remedial action running through late 2026.

EPA completed its first five-year review in April 2026. That review found the interim groundwater remedy is protective of human health and the environment in the short term. Human exposure is currently under control, meaning no unacceptable exposure pathways exist at this time. However, EPA has noted insufficient data to confirm whether groundwater contamination is stabilized or still migrating. Physical cleanup work is not yet complete. Five businesses currently operate on the site, employing 31 people and generating about $1.6 million in annual sales.

Community members can stay involved through the Community Advisory Group, which meets several times a year and includes residents, local businesses, and officials from Doylestown Borough and Doylestown Township. EPA conducts vapor intrusion sampling and notifies property owners of results within two months. Site documents are available online through EPA's Superfund database or in person at the Bucks County Free Library in Doylestown or at the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia by appointment. For questions, contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator.