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2 Carroll County schools have elevated PFAS levels in water

Two public schools in Carroll County have elevated levels of so-called “forever chemicals” in drinking water.The findings come after exclusive reporting from 11 News Investigates revealed that two public schools in Baltimore County and 10 public schools in Harford County have elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their water.Video above: Elevated PFAS levels found in water at two BCPS schoolsAccording to CCPS, PFAS levels above legal limits were found at South Carroll High School and Winfield Elementary School. The schools are turning off their water dispensers and providing bottled and/or filtered water at the point of use.Before April, there was no legal limit for PFAS, only an Environmental Protection Agency guideline of 70 parts per trillion (PPT) PFAS in drinking water. Then, in April, the EPA set a new legally enforceable limit, lowering the maximum level for two types of PFAS to 4 PPT. Public water systems have until 2027 to comply with this new limit, monitor the water, and publicly disclose PFAS levels. According to CCPS, water samples taken at South Carroll High School in July contained 15.6 parts per trillion (PPT) of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 12.7 PPT of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), which is above the legal limit of 4.0 PPT for both PFAS compounds. According to CCPS, water samples taken at Winfield Elementary School in July contained 11.50 PPT of PFOA and 5.42 PPT of PFOS. The EPA states that “long-term exposure to PFAS can cause cancer and other serious illnesses, reducing quality of life or leading to death.” PFAS are man-made chemicals that do not occur naturally in the environment and are considered “forever chemicals” because they are very persistent in the environment and do not break down.

SYKESVILLE, Maryland —

Elevated levels of so-called “perpetual chemicals” were found in the drinking water of two public schools in Carroll County.

The findings come after exclusive reports from 11 News Investigates revealed that two public schools in Baltimore County and 10 public schools in Harford County had elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their water.

Video above: Elevated PFAS levels found in water at 2 BCPS schools

According to CCPS, PFAS levels above regulatory limits were found at South Carroll High School and Winfield Elementary School. The schools are turning off their water dispensers and providing bottled and/or filtered water.

Before April, there was no legal limit for PFAS, just a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guideline of 70 parts per trillion (PPT) of PFAS in drinking water. Then in April, the EPA set a new legally enforceable limit that lowered the maximum level for two types of PFAS to 4 PPT. Public water systems have until 2027 to comply with this new limit, monitor the water, and publicly disclose PFAS levels.

According to CCPS, water samples taken at South Carroll High School in July contained 15.6 parts per trillion (PPT) of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 12.7 PPT of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), which is above the legal limit of 4.0 PPT for both PFAS compounds.

According to CCPS, water samples collected at Winfield Elementary School in July detected 11.50 PPT PFOA and 5.42 PPT PFOS.

The EPA states that “long-term exposure to PFAS can cause cancer and other serious illnesses that reduce quality of life or lead to death.”

PFAS are man-made chemicals that do not occur naturally in the environment and are considered “forever chemicals” because they are very persistent in the environment and do not decompose.

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