The Department of the Navy requested permission from private property owners near naval air stations to sample their drinking water wells. These requests were made as a result of potential impacts to groundwater that may have been caused by the Navy's use of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) during firefighting operations at these installations.
More specifically, the Navy sampled drinking water wells, contingent upon receiving owner permission, for the presence of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), an ingredient used in the manufacture of AFFF. The Navy's goal was to ensure that our neighbor's drinking water wells were not impacted.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified PFAS as an unregulated or "emerging" contaminant which are not subject to Safe Drinking Water Act regulatory standards or routine water quality testing requirements. The U.S. EPA is currently studying PFAS to determine whether regulation is needed. Therefore, there is no legal requirement to perform the testing. The Navy did the testing out of a desire to be proactive and to ensure the safety and well-being of our neighbor. For more information, please see the available files on the page.
Commanding Officer's Letter - Drinking Water Results
Mayport Fact Sheet
EPA Drinking Water Advisory
FAQs for PFAS
ATSDR: An Overview
Open House Posters