As awareness of ‘forever chemicals’ rises, leaders try to lower exposure in Northeast, Northcentral Pa.

Read the full article by Sarah Hofius Hall (WVIA).

“The Lakeland School District superintendent fills up his reusable water bottle at a fountain near the high school lobby.

Water tests the last two years revealed the level of ‘forever chemicals,’ known as PFAS, as high as 10 times greater than federal limits.

A filter makes the fountain water safe to drink, but the school in Scott Twp., Lackawanna County, has plans to install a building-wide treatment system.

‘It’s an example of a microcosm of what’s happening across the state and a lot of different places,’ Superintendent Marc Wyandt said. ‘The health, safety and welfare of our students, of our staff, are always our top priority.’

From school drinking fountains to private wells and municipal water systems, testing and new regulations have increased awareness of ‘forever chemicals’ across Northeast and Northcentral Pennsylvania. Residents, utilities and government agencies are working to treat water and minimize risk.”…