By Josh McKnight | The McKnight Team
Sunoco Pipeline Limited Partnership released a 197-page Remedial Action Plan that lays out how it will continue cleaning up the jet fuel spill in Upper Makefield Township. The plan covers groundwater, private wells, and soil in the Mount Eyre neighborhood. A public meeting was held on July 8 to walk through it.
If you own a home in Upper Makefield, this is a document worth knowing about. If you are thinking about buying one, it is a document worth reading.
What the Plan Covers
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection required the plan. It addresses a leak from Sunoco’s Twin Oaks Pipeline, which is about 70 years old and carries jet fuel from refineries south of Philadelphia through Bucks County and up to Newark, New Jersey.
A crack in a pipe sleeve was found in Mount Eyre in late January 2025. Neighbors had been reporting a gasoline odor in their drinking water going back to September 2023. The plan and related information are posted on the Upper Makefield Township website.
That timeline matters. This is not a fresh event. It has been building for years, which means the paper trail is long and the disclosure conversation is real.
Well Water and Disclosure in Bucks County
A lot of Upper Makefield runs on private wells rather than public water. That is normal for this part of Bucks County and it is part of the appeal of living out here. It also means the homeowner, not a utility, is responsible for knowing what is in the water.
Pennsylvania sellers complete a property disclosure statement. Known water quality problems, past testing, treatment systems, and any remediation history belong on that form. If you are selling a home in an affected area, do not guess and do not leave it blank. Pull your records. Put the facts on the page.
Buyers, order a water test. Do it in Upper Makefield and do it anywhere else on well water. A test is one of the cheapest line items in a transaction and it is the only thing that turns a rumor into a fact.
Does This Affect Home Values in Upper Makefield?
The honest answer is that it depends on the property and on the paperwork.
Buyers do not price problems. They price uncertainty. A home with no test results, no treatment system, and no documentation is a home where the buyer has to guess, and buyers guess conservatively. A home with recent test results, a filtration system, and a clear record of what was done and when is a completely different conversation. Same street. Very different offer.
The wider market gives sellers here some room. The median sale price in Bucks County was $538,385 in May 2026, up 7.5 percent from a year earlier, and homes sold in about 21 days on average, according to Redfin. Demand in the Bucks County real estate market is strong. That strength does not erase a water issue, but it does mean an informed, well-documented seller is negotiating from a position of strength rather than fear.
What This Means for You
If you own in Mount Eyre or nearby, get your documentation in order now, whether you plan to sell this year or in five years. Test results, treatment system records, and correspondence about the remediation are assets. Keep them.
If you are buying in Upper Makefield, ask questions and get answers in writing. Read the Remedial Action Plan. Order the water test. Talk to a REALTOR® who has actually worked a transaction in an area with a known environmental issue, because the difference between a smooth deal and a dead deal here is preparation.
For buyers who want the same feel with a different set of variables, Doylestown is worth a look. Different water, same Bucks County character.
Thinking about buying or selling in Upper Makefield? Let’s talk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Sunoco jet fuel spill affect home values in Upper Makefield?
It depends on the property and the documentation. Homes with recent water testing and treatment systems in place tend to hold value far better than homes where the buyer is left guessing. The broader Bucks County market remains strong, with a median sale price of $538,385 in May 2026 per Redfin.
Do I have to disclose the jet fuel spill when I sell my home in Bucks County?
Pennsylvania requires sellers to complete a property disclosure statement covering known material defects, including water quality issues and remediation history. If you have knowledge of contamination or testing on your property, it belongs on that form.
Should I test the well water before buying a home in Upper Makefield?
Yes. Any home on a private well should have a water test as part of the inspection process. It is inexpensive relative to the purchase and it gives you facts instead of assumptions.
Where can I read the Sunoco Remedial Action Plan?
The plan and related information are posted on the Upper Makefield Township website. The township made it available ahead of the July 8 public meeting.
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