It started in 1968, when PennDOT and the U.S. Department of Transportation placed the I84/Route 6 interchange directly on top of the Milford Springs aquifer. This road construction caused significant damage to Milford Springs. 

Milford was compensated by the government for these damages. With that money, the Milford Water Authority (MWA) was born. 

The Milford Springs is an unconfined sand-and-gravel aquifer. Unlike a confined aquifer, where a large layer of bedrock protects the water, unconfined aquifers have no bedrock barrier protecting the groundwater below. Unconfined aquifers are shallow, easily infiltrated and notoriously sensitive to surface-water pollution. 

In 1989, a shopping mall was proposed at the exact spot where a new warehouse project is now proposed. The mall was defeated when scientific chemical tracer tests were performed, linking the site’s water infiltration and runoff directly to the Milford Springs. The chemical dye reached the springs in as little as eight hours, a very fast flow time.

The springs would receive stormwater runoff from the proposed mega-warehouse because they are just below the 44.7-acre site.

In addition, through the efforts of Peter Pinchot and the Pike County Environmental Defenders, the Sawkill Creek, which is hydrologically connected to the aquifer, was upgraded from High Quality waters to Exceptional Value waters (EV). This was another factor in the shopping mall project’s demise. 

In 1996, a mining operation 2,800 feet from the springs damaged the springs through mud and silt infiltration. The mining operation was shut down, and the MWA eventually bought the property and restored the site. The mining operation was the same distance as the mega-warehouse project would be to the Milford Springs. 

In 2000, a Home Depot was proposed on this same site. Again, scientific chemical tracer tests revealed the same result as the previous tests. The MWA’s hydrologist conferred with the project developers and this dangerous project was terminated. 

Having so many toxic chemicals sitting on top of an unconfined aquifer just 30 to 65 feet above Milford’s drinking water source was like putting a hazardous ticking time bomb there. 

But here we are in 2023, and some of the same developers that wanted to bring you the shopping mall and Home Depot plan a mega-warehouse project “four times the size” on this same 44.7 acres. 

Did the aquifer move? Is the Sawkill Creek still Exceptional Waters and one of only two percent of the EV streams still left in PA? Did they not learn their lesson from 1989 and 2000?  Apparently not. 

Gail Wall, a developer now located in Florida; attorney Duke Schneider, representing the owner Allen Johns; and Davis R. Chant, the real estate agent involved (marketing this land as “prime commercial site”) are trying to ignore history and science all over again with this irresponsible project. 

They have joined forces with MILPROP Associates II, LLC; National Land Developers; and LVL Engineering to bring you the 434,000-square-foot Milford Distribution Center proposal. 

The combined earth disturbance and aquifer-compromising “impervious surface” planned is 16.64 football-fields large. This will be directly on top of the heart of the Milford aquifer. 

The local government agency responsible for inviting and currently marketing this project to Milford is the Pike County Economic Development Authority, where commissioner Matt Osterberg is chairman and Mike Sullivan is executive director. Osterberg, as of April 5, now says he is “not for” the mega-warehouse. As of April 4, Mike Sullivan is still sticking to his mega-warehouse guns in spite of mounting community pushback by a more scientifically educated voting public. 

A conditional-use hearing is scheduled for the project application is scheduled for Monday, May 22 at 6 p.m. at the Delaware Valley High School auditorium.

For more on Sawkill Creek and the aquifer, visit www.riverreporter.com/stories/how-the-milford-aquifer-flows-from-the-sources,60564. 

Part two will look at the effect of climate change on the Milford Springs and the area that depends on it.

Vito DiBiasi lives in Milford Township and is a member of the Friends of the Milford Aquifer.