Navy working to find out if cancer-causing chemicals are in water systems around base

Dozens of people showed up to an open house after finding out about a drinking water investigation.

The Navy is working to find out if there are cancer-causing chemicals in water systems around Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and they are asking people to test their water.

About 3,000 people who potentially have cardinogenic chemicals in their water were sent letters by the Navy.

“A little bit surprised,” a woman said.

Barbara Criswell said the Navy came out and tested her water this week, and she’s eager to get the results, since the chemicals can cause health issues.

“They said the animals have high cholesterol, and I do have that,” Criswell said.

Action News Jax first told you last week that the Navy found the chemicals, known as PFAs, on their base.

“During the assessment, we found there were two sites on base where groundwater monitoring wells' levels were greater than the EPA lifetime health advisory,” restoration project manager Adrienne Wilson said.

Since the chemicals seeped into the ground, the Navy is now investigating if the chemicals got into any private drinking water wells in areas around the base.

Mike Monraeal said he lives on the base where the chemicals were found.

“The concerns are not necessarily the drinking water, but other groundwater wells,” Monraeal said.

The chemicals originally came from firefighting foam that is no longer used.

The commanding officer at NAS Jacksonville said it's urgent that people offer up their water for testing.

“It’s very important. There’s an EPA lifetime health advisory, it’s not regulatory by nature, but the Navy is trying to take that extra step,” Capt. Michael Connor said.

More than 50 people showed up to the open house to learn more about the potentially contaminated water, and only one person signed up to get their water tested.

“I think we need to find out what’s in their wells before we have any concerns,” Wilson said.

So far, more than 25 private well water systems have been located and testing began Monday.  Twelve of those private water wells have been tested for chemical contamination.

If chemicals are found in the water, the Navy said it will be transparent with results.

“We will notify homeowners within 24 hours of being notified and bring them an alternate source of water,” Wilson said.

The Navy expects to have all the results by September or October.

People who are on JEA’s water system are not affected.

Cox Media Group