Harford County announced on April 8 that it has become the first county in Maryland to operate a laboratory certified by the Maryland Department of the Environment for testing PFAS, often called “forever chemicals.” The new facility is located at the Abingdon Water Treatment Plant and is equipped to deliver faster results and improved water safety for local residents.
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals found in many products. They persist in the environment and can accumulate over time, raising concerns about contamination of water, soil, and food. The ability to test for these substances quickly is important because they have been linked to potential health risks.
County Executive Bob Cassilly said, “Safe, reliable drinking water is vital to our community, and my administration is taking a proactive, innovative approach to protecting public health. By investing in our own testing capability, we are delivering faster test results, helping us ensure safer drinking water for customers of our public water system.”
Since 2012 Harford County has used an outside lab for PFAS testing with samples consistently below regulated limits. With its own certified lab now operational since December 2025 after passing a rigorous audit process, Harford can analyze samples within days instead of weeks while reducing costs. The county provides drinking water to more than 130,000 customers and performs over 230,000 sensitive tests each year meeting all federal and state requirements; its drinking water won quality awards from the American Water Works Association in both 2023 and 2025.
The laboratory was established following Cassilly’s creation of a PFAS Task Force in August 2024. It represents a $700,000 investment including advanced equipment such as liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometer technology needed for precise detection at very low levels. Environmental Chemist Leah Griffin leads the team; she received recognition with the Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award from both the Water Environment Federation and Chesapeake Water Environment Association in 2025.
Looking ahead, Harford County officials say they are exploring ways to extend this new testing capability beyond public utilities to include schools and other community partners using well water.
