Jet Fuel Found in Another Upper Makefield Well: What Bucks County Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

By Josh McKnight | The McKnight Team

Jet fuel has been detected in another private well in Upper Makefield Township’s Mount Eyre area. This is the same neighborhood where a Sunoco pipeline leak went undetected for more than 16 months before being discovered last year. A monitoring well used by the pipeline companies also tested positive on April 1. At least a dozen residential wells in this area have now shown contamination from jet fuel or related chemicals like benzene. For anyone buying or selling a home in Upper Makefield, this is a real material disclosure issue, not a headline you can wave off.

Why This Matters for Real Estate

Pennsylvania has clear seller disclosure rules. Known well water issues, environmental contamination, and ongoing remediation must be disclosed to buyers. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has been clear that there is no acceptable limit for jet fuel in groundwater. That means even small detections trigger a remediation requirement. Township Manager Gregg Schuster said Energy Transfer still has significant work ahead, and more wells are likely to test positive as the investigation expands.

For buyers, this changes how due diligence should work in Upper Makefield. Standard well water testing is no longer enough in this area. Buyers need to know whether a property is in or near the affected zone, what testing has been done, what results have come back, and who pays for ongoing monitoring or remediation if contamination is found later.

Where Upper Makefield Home Values Stand

Upper Makefield has long been one of the higher-end markets in Bucks County. According to Niche, the median home value in the township is $876,200, with active listings often running well above that. Movoto reported a February 2026 median list price of $699,000 for homes that came on the market that month, with larger custom homes pushing into the $1.6 million range and beyond. Properties on private wells sit on larger lots, often acre-plus, and that lot size has historically been part of the appeal. Upper Makefield does not have a dedicated community page on TheMcKnightTeam.com yet, but our Doylestown community page covers a similar central Bucks market.

We are watching three things. First, days on market in the Mount Eyre area specifically. Second, whether buyers start asking for water testing as a contingency on every offer in Upper Makefield. Third, whether the affected zone expands. If it does, the conversation shifts from a localized issue to a township-wide premium that buyers will pay attention to.

What This Means for You

If you are a buyer looking at Upper Makefield, do not skip well testing, do not waive that contingency, and ask the listing agent directly whether the property is in or near the affected area. If you are a seller, get ahead of this. A clean, recent water test report and a clear disclosure are far better than a buyer finding the news on their own and walking away. Pricing also matters. Homes in this segment are not impulse buys, and buyers will pause if they sense the seller is not being upfront.

At The McKnight Team, we help Bucks County families navigate disclosure-heavy situations the right way. That means honest pricing, the right testing, and the right conversation with buyers and lenders. You can reach us anytime at TheMcKnightTeam.com.

Thinking about buying or selling in Upper Makefield? Let’s talk.

Frequently Asked Questions About Upper Makefield Real Estate

Should I still buy a home in Upper Makefield with the well water issue?

Many buyers still do, but with stronger due diligence than before. That means current water testing, a clear seller disclosure, and a real conversation about the home’s location relative to the Mount Eyre area. Most of Upper Makefield is unaffected, but the homework matters more here than in townships without an open environmental issue.

Will the jet fuel issue lower home values in Upper Makefield?

In the directly affected pocket, possibly yes in the short term. Across the rest of the township, recent listing activity does not yet show a broad price impact. We will be watching how buyers behave over the next two to three sale cycles.

What is the housing market like in Upper Makefield PA?

Upper Makefield is one of the higher-end markets in Bucks County. Niche reports a median home value of $876,200, and active listings often run higher. Most homes sit on acre-plus lots, and the buyer pool tends to be smaller and more deliberate, so pricing precision matters more here than in busier townships.

What testing should I ask for when buying a home with a well in Upper Makefield?

At a minimum, request testing for petroleum hydrocarbons including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. Your real estate agent and a qualified environmental testing company can guide the rest based on the specific location and history of the property.

Source: Bucks County Herald; 4/24/2026