BALTIMORE – Two Harford County schools – Fallston High and Harford Technical High – are experiencing contaminated water and students are being advised not to drink the water.

The district sent families a letter on August 13, notifying them that schools have concerning levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

PFAS are a class of man-made chemicals that are resistant to grease, oil, water and heat. According to the Harford County School District, PFAs have been used in many products since the 1940s, including:

• Cleaning products
• Water-repellent fabrics such as rain jackets, umbrellas and tents
• Greaseproof paper
• Non-stick cookware
• Personal care products such as shampoo, dental floss, nail polish and eye make-up
• Dirt-repellent coatings for carpets, upholstery and other textiles
• Fire extinguishing foams

PFAS are man-made chemicals (PFAS) that are found in groundwater and can therefore enter water wells.

“As a result of the EPA order, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) proactively began testing the water fountains in our schools,” the Harford County Schools letter said. “Although the EPA is not requiring action until 2027, we will notify families at schools that have wells that MDE reports have been positive. Some schools, including our school, have had so many positive results that the MDE has strongly recommended making sure no one drinks the water from the fountain.”