Military Base PFAS: 700+ Sites Contaminating Drinking Water

AFFF firefighting foam created a massive PFAS legacy near military installations.

AFFF Problem

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is the primary source of PFAS contamination at military installations. The Department of Defense has used AFFF since the 1970s to extinguish fuel fires during training exercises, aircraft crashes, and fuel spill responses. A single training exercise can release hundreds of gallons of AFFF, each gallon containing PFAS concentrations measured in parts per thousand -- millions of times higher than the EPA's 4 parts per trillion drinking water limit.

The chemistry of AFFF is what made it so effective and so dangerous. PFAS-based foams create a thin film over burning fuel that cuts off oxygen and suppresses vapor. No non-fluorinated alternative matched this performance for decades, which is why the military continued using AFFF even after the health risks became known. The DoD did not begin phasing out PFAS-based AFFF until 2023, with a full transition to fluorine-free foam not expected until 2026-2028.

At training sites where AFFF was used repeatedly, PFAS saturated the soil and leached into groundwater. Because PFAS does not break down naturally, contamination plumes have been spreading underground for decades. Some plumes extend miles from the original training pads, contaminating municipal water supplies and private wells in surrounding communities that have no connection to the military base.

Affected Sites

The DoD has identified over 700 military installations with known or suspected PFAS contamination. This includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps bases as well as National Guard facilities across all 50 states. The worst contamination tends to be at bases with active fire training areas, which used AFFF in repeated drills over decades.

Some of the most heavily contaminated sites include:

• Pease Air Force Base (NH): PFOS levels exceeded 2,000 ppt in nearby drinking water wells -- 500 times the current EPA limit
• Naval Air Station Fallon (NV): PFAS contaminated the municipal water supply serving the entire town of Fallon
• Peterson Air Force Base (CO): PFAS plume affected the Widefield Water and Sanitation District, forcing a switch to alternative water sources
• Wurtsmith Air Force Base (MI): Closed in 1993, but PFAS contamination continues spreading through groundwater into nearby Clark Lake and surrounding wells
• Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ): PFAS contamination detected in residential wells more than a mile from the base boundary

Contamination is not limited to active bases. Many closed military facilities (BRAC sites) continue to contaminate surrounding areas because the PFAS in the soil and groundwater persists indefinitely. The DoD's cleanup efforts are ongoing but projected to take decades and cost tens of billions of dollars.

Testing

If you live within 5 miles of a current or former military installation, testing your water for PFAS should be a priority. Start by checking your city's data on CheckMyTap -- if your municipal supply draws from groundwater near a base, contamination may already be documented.

On public water: Your utility should be conducting PFAS monitoring under the EPA's UCMR5 program by 2027. You can request their latest results or check your city's page on CheckMyTap for existing data. If PFAS is detected above 4 ppt, your utility is required to notify customers and begin treatment planning.

On a private well: You need a certified PFAS lab test, which costs $200-500. Standard home test strips do not detect PFAS. Contact your state health department first -- several states near military bases (including New Hampshire, Michigan, and Colorado) offer free or subsidized well testing in affected areas. The DoD itself has funded well testing programs around some installations.

If you live on base or in military housing, contact your installation's environmental office. The DoD is required to provide alternative water supplies or filtration systems when base-related PFAS contamination exceeds EPA health advisory levels in on-base housing.

Legal Options

Communities and individuals affected by military PFAS contamination have several legal avenues, though progress has been uneven.

AFFF manufacturer lawsuits: 3M, the primary manufacturer of PFAS-based AFFF, settled a major class action for $10.3 billion in 2023. DuPont and its spinoffs (Chemours, Corteva) agreed to a separate $1.18 billion settlement. These settlements are directed primarily at public water systems that need to install PFAS treatment, not individual homeowners. However, individual claims may be possible through personal injury lawsuits if you can demonstrate health effects linked to PFAS exposure.

Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA): You can file claims against the federal government for property damage and health effects caused by military PFAS contamination, though the government has limited liability under federal tort law. Some claims have been successful, particularly where the DoD was shown to have known about contamination risks and failed to act.

State-level action: Several states have filed their own lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers and have used settlement funds to provide bottled water, water filtration systems, and alternative water connections to affected residents. Contact your state attorney general's office to learn about available programs in your area.

While legal remedies work through the system, protect yourself now. Install an NSF P473-certified filter or reverse osmosis system for your drinking water. The cost ($90-600) is modest compared to the health risk of continued exposure. See our filter buying guide for recommendations.