Consumer Notice of Tap Water Results Q1 2026
February 3, 2026
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am writing to share important information regarding the required quarterly testing of the water system at Damascus Area School for perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals.” This communication is very similar to one you received from the district in November 2025. Testing began in February 2025 and requires four quarterly samples to establish a Running Annual Average (RAA). The most recent testing cycle has now been completed.
Based on the results, the RAA for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) exceeds the established maximum contaminant level (MCL). As outlined in the attached Tier 2 notice from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, the water at Damascus Area School remains safe for drinking, cooking, and washing, and the use of an alternative water supply is not required.
The district has taken proactive steps by installing point-of-use PFOS filtration systems on all drinking water stations and sinks used for consumption and food preparation. Please note that state testing protocols require that samples be collected from non-filtered sources within the building. In addition, the district has started to plan and begun the process to design and install a comprehensive building-wide water filtration system at Damascus Area School.
We encourage you to review the attached Tier 2 notification and the Pennsylvania Department of Health PFAS FAQ document for additional background and guidance. The district will continue to follow all DEP testing requirements and recommendations and will keep Damasus families informed of any updates.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 570-253-4661 or tmorgan@whsdk12.com.
Sincerely,
Timothy Morgan
Superintendent of Schools
