2 Aroostook County schools on track for new clean water system

HODGDON, Maine — A nearly two-year journey toward PFAS-free water is almost complete for an Aroostook County school district.

The installation of a new carbon filtration water treatment system, aimed at eliminating per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl contaminants, better known as PFAS, from the water at Mill Pond Elementary and Hodgdon Middle High School, will be completed soon, according to MSAD 70 Superintendent Tyler Putnam.

The Hodgdon schools are among dozens around the state still dependent on bottled water as a mounting list of delays — funding, contractors, supplies — keep them from filtering out PFAS and turning taps back on.

The more than $120,000 project, initially planned for a November 2023 completion, like others in the state, was rife with delays.

“We had a lot of supply chain issues and we struggled at first to find a company to take the project bid,” Putnam said, adding that it takes time for engineers to design the layout and the installation can be time consuming and complex.

Harbison Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning has been installing the new water

treatment system since late August and in this final stretch, it will shut off the water to the two school buildings, the central office and the town office next week, Putnam said, adding that there will be an early 11 a.m. dismissal on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7.

The Hodgdon schools were among the first in the County to test for PFAS in November 2022. When initial results came back in early December, the elementary school’s PFAS’ were at 23 parts per trillion and the middle high school at 34 parts per trillion.

The state requires 20 parts per trillion or less, Putnam said.

Additionally, a 2019 Maine law requires all schools to sample taps used for drinking or cooking to determine lead levels at water sources. These include drinking fountains and faucets in kitchens, lab sinks and bathrooms. Thirty-seven percent of the faucets tested at both schools were positive for lead above the 4 parts per billion state limit.

To remedy the lead problem, McPartland’s Plumbing tested faucets and pipes and installed new fixtures. The two schools have since passed all lead tests, Putnam said.

Engineers from Haley Ward Engineering in Bangor worked with the district to redesign boiler rooms at the two schools to accommodate the new carbon treatment systems, Putnam said.

Back in 2022, following the initial testing, the state told the district to cease all water use at the schools because of the PFAS levels, forcing the school to come up with temporary and permanent water solutions.

In the short term, Houlton Farms Dairy stepped up and helped the schools by delivering water.

“They did not charge us any delivery fees. It was such a relief to have a local business looking out for our school district and not have to worry about that local cost in a budget that was not prepared for it,” Putnam said.

Since then they budgeted for water coolers in each school. Students bring their own water bottles and fill them up at the water coolers in both buildings, he said.

When the installation is complete, they will again go through state testing before getting approval to allow staff and students to consume the water. Once the state gives the approval, the schools will go back to using water fountains, water bottle filling stations, and water in the kitchens for cooking, Putnam said.

When they receive the state approval letter, Putnam said he will frame it and put it on the office wall.

“This has been a humongous stressor,” he said. “However, the fact that Harbison’s, Houlton Farms Dairy, our students, staff, school board, and parents have been so supportive and shown patience throughout this ordeal makes you really appreciate working in a district that treats you like family.”

Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli is a reporter covering the Houlton area. Over the years, she has covered crime, investigations, health, politics and local government, writing for the Washington Post, the LA... More by Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli