Category: Water Environment

You know how we always assume our military has our backs? Well, turns out they’ve been accidentally poisoning communities for decades. And I’m not talking about some conspiracy theory – this is documented, admitted-to contamination that’s affected over 700 military bases across the country.

What really pisses me off is that families living near these bases – including military families themselves – have been drinking contaminated water without knowing it. We’re talking about people who serve our country, and their kids, getting exposed to cancer-causing chemicals just from turning on the tap.

The Department of Defense finally came clean about 455 installations with confirmed contamination, but here’s the kicker: they’re still investigating hundreds more. Every state has been hit, and the contamination doesn’t magically stop at the base fence line.

What This Means If You Live Near a Base

Bottom line: Your tap water might contain cancer-causing chemicals that came from the military base down the road.

This contamination problem affects way more people than you might think:

The numbers are staggering:

• More than 700 military installations are involved
• Every state in the country has affected bases
• Over 600,000 military families have been drinking contaminated water
• Surrounding civilian communities are also at risk

Health problems linked to this contamination:

• Kidney cancer and testicular cancer rates are higher near contaminated bases
• Liver problems and immune system damage
• Thyroid disorders affecting metabolism and growth
• Pregnancy complications and developmental issues in children

How the contamination spreads beyond base boundaries: Underground water doesn’t respect property lines. These chemicals move through soil and groundwater systems, which means:

• Your private well could be contaminated even if you’re miles from a base
• Municipal water systems serving entire towns can be affected
• Local rivers and streams become contaminated
• Even the food grown in contaminated soil can contain these chemicals

The Root of This Contamination Problem

Where these toxic chemicals came from:

The military has been using a special firefighting foam for more than 50 years. This foam, known as AFFF, contains PFAS chemicals that make it incredibly effective at smothering fuel fires. Think jet fuel, diesel, gasoline – the kind of fires that happen at military bases and airports.

The problem is, every time they used this foam in training exercises or real emergencies, those chemicals soaked into the ground. And PFAS chemicals are basically indestructible – they don’t break down naturally like other substances.

Timeline of the cover-up: What’s really maddening is that this wasn’t an unknown risk. Military documents and company records show:

• The Navy and 3M Company knew about health risks by the mid-1970s
• They continued using and promoting these products for decades
• The military only started phasing out the worst chemicals in 2015
• Full disclosure to affected communities didn’t happen until recently

Examples of contamination that’ll shock you:

• Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada: PFAS levels nearly 15,000 times above safe limits
• Scott Air Force Base in Illinois: contamination more than 20,000 times EPA standards
• Fort Campbell in Kentucky: levels over 1,400 times what’s considered safe
• Pennsylvania bases near Philadelphia: affected 85,000 residents in surrounding counties

Which States Are Hit the Hardest

Every state has been affected, but some are dealing with worse contamination:

High-impact states include:

• California: Multiple bases including several in areas already dealing with wildfire risks
• Texas: Contamination near major population centers and industrial areas
• Virginia: Langley Air Force Base and other installations affecting large communities
• North Carolina: Multiple bases including areas that also dealt with other industrial PFAS contamination
• Pennsylvania: Extensive contamination near Philadelphia affecting about 85,000 residents
• New Hampshire: Pease Air Force Base contamination led to major community health concerns

Hawaii got hit particularly hard: Five military sites in Hawaii showed up in recent contamination reports, including Pearl Harbor with some of the highest PFAS levels ever recorded.

States taking action:

• Massachusetts implemented the nation’s first PFAS cleanup standards for military sites
• New Hampshire established a restoration advisory board to work with military and state officials
• Georgia allocated $15 million for immediate remediation efforts
• Several states have filed lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers

Steps You Can Take to Protect Yourself

Start with finding out if you’re at risk:

• Look up your address in relation to nearby military installations (contamination can spread 5-10 miles or more)
• Call your water company and demand recent PFAS test results – don’t accept vague answers
• If they haven’t tested recently, ask when they plan to and push for urgent testing
• Request test results going back several years, not just current data

For private well owners:

• Get your well tested by a certified lab that specifically tests for PFAS
• Standard water tests don’t include PFAS, so you need to specifically request it
• Testing can cost $300-600, but it’s worth knowing what you’re dealing with
• Keep all test results – you may need them later for health or legal purposes

Water protection options:

• Install a reverse osmosis system certified for PFAS removal (most effective option)
• Activated carbon filters can help but aren’t as reliable for all PFAS types
• Avoid basic pitcher filters – they won’t remove PFAS chemicals
• Remember that boiling contaminated water actually makes the problem worse by concentrating the chemicals

Stay engaged with your community:

• Attend town halls or water board meetings where contamination is discussed
• Connect with neighbors who might also be affected
• Consider joining or forming a local advocacy group
• Document any health issues in your family that might be related

💡 Action Items for This Week:

• Map check: Use online tools to see if you live near a contaminated military site
• Water company call: Get your most recent PFAS test results in writing
• Health inventory: Make a list of any unexplained health issues in your household
• Filter research: Start looking into certified PFAS removal systems for your home

What’s Being Done About It

Federal response: The EPA has established new drinking water standards for PFAS, with limits as low as 4 parts per trillion for some chemicals. Water systems have until 2031 to meet these standards.

The Department of Defense has:

• Allocated over $2 billion for PFAS cleanup efforts
• Started phasing out PFOA and PFOS in firefighting foams (though they still use other PFAS)
• Begun testing private wells near military installations
• Provided alternative water sources for some affected communities

Legal action: Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against companies like 3M, DuPont, and Chemours – the manufacturers of PFAS chemicals. Many of these cases are moving toward potential settlements.

State-level efforts: Many states have gone beyond federal requirements, setting stricter limits and requiring more extensive testing and cleanup.

The Uncomfortable Truth About This Mess

Here’s what really gets me about this whole situation: we’ve got military families – the people who serve our country – who’ve been drinking contaminated water for years without knowing it. And it wasn’t an accident.

The paperwork shows that the companies making these chemicals and the military using them had a pretty good idea this stuff was dangerous way back in the 1970s. But nobody hit the brakes. Instead, they kept using it for another 40+ years.

Now you’ve got kids who grew up on military bases developing cancer in their 20s and 30s. You’ve got veterans dealing with health problems they never saw coming. And you’ve got entire communities near these bases wondering if their water is safe to drink.

What really bothers me is how long it took for this to become public knowledge. It’s 2025, and we’re just now getting serious about testing and cleanup. Meanwhile, people have been getting sick for decades.

The companies involved are finally starting to pay up – we’re seeing some massive settlements – but that doesn’t undo the damage. And honestly? The cleanup is going to take years, maybe decades.

If you’re living near one of these bases, you’re probably thinking “great, now what?” I get it. It’s overwhelming. But here’s the thing – you’re not powerless. You can get your water tested. You can install filters. You can make noise with your local officials.

The military is finally being forced to take responsibility, but they’re moving at military pace (which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly lightning fast). Don’t wait for them to solve this. Start protecting your family now.

And if you’re dealing with health issues that might be connected to this contamination? Document everything. Get your blood tested for PFAS levels. Keep records. This fight isn’t over, and you deserve answers.

Sources: Environmental Working Group military PFAS site database, Department of Defense PFAS Task Force reports, EPA PFAS contamination data

Last Updated: June 30, 2025

If you’ve been wondering whether your tap water is safe to drink, here’s what you need to know about the EPA’s latest findings. The agency just released new data showing that 9,323 sites across the country have detectable levels of toxic “forever chemicals” called PFAS. This affects approximately 165 million Americans who may be drinking contaminated water every day.

What This Means for You

Bottom Line: Your drinking water could contain harmful chemicals that never break down in your body or the environment.

The EPA’s June 2025 data update shows that nearly 3,000 additional sites tested positive for PFAS contamination. This brings the total number of confirmed contaminated locations to 9,323 across all 50 states.

Here’s what affects you directly:

• Your family’s exposure: If you live near any of these sites, your drinking water may contain chemicals linked to cancer, liver problems, and immune system damage
• Timeline: The testing is ongoing through 2025, so more contaminated sites will likely be discovered
• Your protection: Current federal standards only regulate 6 out of thousands of PFAS chemicals

This data comes from the EPA’s required testing of water systems under something called UCMR-5. About 75% of the expected test results are now complete.

Key Details You Should Know

What the numbers really mean:

• 9,323 sites have detectable PFAS levels
• 165 million people potentially affected
• Testing covers 29 different PFAS chemicals
• Results show contamination in every state

What makes this serious:

• PFAS chemicals never break down naturally
• They build up in your body over time
• Scientists call them “forever chemicals” for this reason
• Even tiny amounts can cause health problems

The testing process: Water systems serving more than 3,300 people must test their water. The EPA also selected 800 smaller systems for testing. Results get reported quarterly, so we’re still learning the full scope of contamination.

Background: Why This Is Happening Now

PFAS chemicals have been used in everyday products since the 1940s. You’ll find them in:

• Nonstick cookware
• Waterproof clothing
• Food packaging
• Firefighting foam used at airports and military bases

For decades, companies discharged these chemicals into the environment with little oversight. The EPA has known about health risks for years but only recently started requiring comprehensive testing.

The current testing program requires water utilities to check for 29 specific PFAS chemicals. Previous testing only looked for a handful of these substances.

What You Can Do Right Now

Check your water:

• Contact your water utility and ask for recent PFAS test results
• Look up your area on the EPA’s contamination map
• Request a copy of your water quality report

Protect your family:

• Consider installing a water filter certified to remove PFAS
• Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters work best
• Look for NSF certification when choosing filters

Stay informed:

• The EPA releases new test results every three months
• More contaminated sites will likely be discovered through 2025
• Keep track of updates from your local water utility

💡 Take Action Now:

• Call your water company: Ask for PFAS test results
• Test your water: Consider home testing if you have a private well
• Consider filtration: Research certified PFAS removal systems

What Happens Next

Federal action: The EPA finalized drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals in 2024. However, the current administration has signaled it may roll back standards for four of these chemicals, keeping regulations only for the two most studied ones (PFOA and PFOS).

Timeline for compliance:

• Water systems must complete initial monitoring by 2027
• Compliance deadline was extended from 2029 to 2031
• Systems exceeding limits must install treatment or find new water sources

Ongoing testing: The EPA will continue releasing quarterly updates through 2026. Experts expect the total number of contaminated sites to keep growing as more testing is completed.

State-level action: Many states are developing their own PFAS regulations that may be stricter than federal standards. Check what your state is doing about PFAS contamination.

The EPA has allocated $9 billion from federal infrastructure funding specifically to help communities address PFAS contamination. This includes money for treatment systems and technical assistance.

Bottom Line

The scale of PFAS contamination in American drinking water is larger than previously known. With 9,323 confirmed contaminated sites affecting 165 million people, this represents one of the most widespread water quality challenges our country faces.

While the numbers are concerning, you’re not powerless. Understanding your water quality, exploring filtration options, and staying informed about local developments can help protect your family’s health.

The key is taking action rather than waiting for perfect solutions. As testing continues through 2025, we’ll learn more about the full scope of contamination, but you can start protecting yourself today.

Check our Water reports HERE to find out your water quality

Sources: Environmental Protection Agency UCMR-5 data (June 2025), Environmental Working Group PFAS contamination map

Last Updated: June 26, 2025