Testing shows no evidence of PFAS in drinking water

NASA, in collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies, says the water in and around its facilities, and the well and ground water in the Town of Chincoteague is good to drink.

NASA has been conducting testing of the facility's groundwater monitoring and drinking water wells and the Town of Chincoteague's drinking water wells for the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. 

The EPA declared a lifetime health advisory in May 2016 on PFAS.

The tests were done at the NASA facilities because of historic firefighting activities located on the north-central portion of Wallops mainbase.  Firefighters conducted training with a commonly-used firefighting foam that contains PFAS compounds.

PFAS are chemicals used to make carpets, clothing, fabrics, cookware, and are resistant to water, grease or stains.  What's more, PFAS has been detected in the drinking water of 33 states, affecting 16 million Americans.

"It's pervasive in society.  It's in Teflon, it's in fast food wrappers, it's been heavily used since the 1950s," said Jeremy Eggers, with the Wallop Office of Communications.

The investigation at Wallops spread to the sites' drinking wells as well as the Town of Chincoteague's drinking wells that are located on the property.

"The good thing is that the levels of PFAS have been non-detect in the finished drinking water, and that's really a good thing, and that's the message here is that it's non-detect.  So if there's no exposure then there's no risk," said Dr. Karl Markiewicz, Senior Toxicologist with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

While NASA says the levels are non-detectable they say the investigation will be ongoing.