JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Residents who live near local Navy bases and rely on well water may need to get their water tested for PFAS. Navy officials say the chemicals could have come from activity on the bases.
Wednesday’s open house was the second of three events meant to educate residents in impacted areas and give them an opportunity to sign up for free water sampling.
PFAS, often called forever chemicals, are manmade chemicals the Navy is testing for on and near Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Outlying Landing Field Whitehouse. Captain Ryan Dexter, a commanding officer at NAS Jacksonville, says the effort is part of a nationwide initiative.
“A chemical that could have run off the base over the years through certain activities that we have had on the base through the years, mostly firefighting type of stuff. And so, we are just looking to test and see if their water for their water wells has been affected by that,” Dexter said.
Some off-base areas have tested below the Department of War’s PFAS levels for private drinking water. Others have tested above. Officials say residents who received a card in the mail may want to consider getting their well tested.
“The PFAS has kind of come to us new since about 2018 and so what we are really looking to do is to sample to see if there first is any issue and from there what we can do to remedy it,” Dexter said.
PFAS exposure can come with risks, including higher cholesterol levels, higher blood pressure in pregnant women and some cancers. Chemical exposure does not always lead to health effects.
“Research is still ongoing about what effects PFAS may have, and I would invite them to talk to their doctors if they have any specific questions on that,” Dexter said.
NAS Jacksonville officials say sampling is not required for residents connected to the City of Atlantic Beach or JEA.
The next open house will be held Thursday at Whitehouse Elementary School from 6 to 8 p.m.
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