An annual water test returned today found that Holden Elementary School’s water contains more PFAS than the state drinking water standards allow, according to RSU 63 Superintendent Sheila Caldwell.
The school’s PFAS levels were found to be at 20.2 parts per trillion, just over the state standard of 20 parts per trillion.
The school will install filters to decrease the PFAS levels and make the water safe to drink, Caldwell said.
Holden Elementary School is one of multiple schools in Maine found to have higher PFAS levels than the state standard. PFAS — also known as per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances — are chemicals found in many household and industrial products that can build up in your body and cause health effects including increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer. Officials have found the chemicals are linked to landfills, wastewater treatment plants and manufacturing facilities.
Filters are being installed this week, Caldwell said, but students and staff will have to drink bottled water provided by the school or water they bring from home until testing with the filters is completed.
“Once [the filters] are installed, we want to test the water again so that it will be below the 20 mark, even though we’re pretty certain it will be, because that’s what the filter is for, and it’s such a slight increase over,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell doesn’t know when the tests will be returned, but a document from the Maine Drinking Water Program says the school anticipates the problem to be solved in 60 to 90 days.
If the filters don’t lower the PFAS enough, a tank may be installed and act as a larger filter. Installing the tank would also require the school to change its boiler, Caldwell said.
The school is not planning on installing the tank and would discuss it with the school board before making any decisions, she said.
“We want to make sure that we are fiscally responsible and communicate about the bigger picture. But for now, the filters should do the trick,” Caldwell said.
The school will notify the community when testing is completed and when the water is safe to drink again, Caldwell said.