JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Department of the Navy is holding three public open houses from Sept. 22 through Sept. 24 to offer free private drinking water well testing for residents living near local naval installations.
The events cater to property owners near Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and Outlying Landing Field Whitehouse to address potential contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS.
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Each open house runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Designed as drop-in informational sessions, the meetings allow residents to review eligibility maps, speak with Navy and state technical experts, and complete registration for no-cost private well sampling. PFAS are man-made chemicals historically used in consumer goods and military firefighting foam, known as AFFF.
The first open house takes place Tuesday for residents near Naval Station Mayport at Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School, located at 2600 Mayport Rd. in Atlantic Beach.
“Our responsibility to the communities surrounding NS Mayport extends beyond the installation fence line,” Capt. Mike Trumbull, commanding officer of NS Mayport, said in a news release. “We encourage residents who rely on private wells for drinking water to attend, talk with our team and determine whether their property is eligible for testing. This outreach is an important part of our commitment to protecting our neighbors.”
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The remaining open houses will be held Wednesday for NAS Jacksonville residents at the Courtyard by Marriott, 610 Wells Rd. in Orange Park, and Thursday for OLF Whitehouse residents at Whitehouse Elementary School, 11160 General Ave. in Jacksonville.
Capt. Ryan Dexter, commanding officer of NAS Jacksonville, said the events are structured to give property owners direct access to technical staff.
“We want our neighbors to have the information they need and an opportunity to have their private drinking water wells tested,” Dexter said. “These open houses allow residents to speak directly with our technical experts, ask questions and better understand the work the Navy is doing to address PFAS.”
Water samples collected from eligible private wells are analyzed by an accredited independent laboratory using EPA-approved methods and undergo a quality-assurance review.
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If PFAS linked to Navy activities are detected above federal action levels, the Navy will provide water filtration systems as an interim solution while working to connect affected properties to a public water supply.
“Ensuring the health and safety of our surrounding communities is the Navy’s number one priority,” Dexter said. “Through proactive well testing, accessible public open houses and long-term water solutions, we remain dedicated to protecting our neighbors and preserving a safe environment for all residents.”
Property owners who cannot attend the open houses can check testing eligibility and request sampling online or by phone.
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NAS Jacksonville and OLF Whitehouse residents can visit www.navfac.navy.mil/NASJaxPFAS or call 1-833-529-7327. NS Mayport residents can visit www.navfac.navy.mil/MayportPFAS or call 1-833-629-7327.
Those who sign up for testing will have their water samples sent to an independent accredited laboratory for review, with results mailed directly to residents once quality-assurance checks are complete.
If contamination exceeding federal action levels is found, the Navy will coordinate with property owners to install interim filtration systems and work toward public water connections.
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