Two wells near Dover Air Force Base have possible elevated PFOS/PFOA levels

DOVER, Del. – The Dover Air Force Base is helping two nearby businesses after recent well testing showed there may be traces of chemicals in their water.

Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) says that two wells near Dover Air Force Base may have elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Those chemicals are commonly found in firefighting foam.

The U.S. Air Force and Dover Air Force Base (DAFB) notified DNREC after preliminary results showed concentrations above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s lifetime health advisory for these substances of 70 parts per trillion (ppt).

Officials with the base tell 47 ABC even though the tests aren’t 100 percent verified, they’re taking this very seriously. “Because of the analysis of chemical and environmental data, it takes quite a while to validate. So that’s why the Air Force chose for go off base and deliver notifications and bottled water with only preliminary data,” says Joe Kowalski, remedial project manager with DAFB.

The preliminary, unvalidated results for these two wells come after validated detections of PFOS and PFOA were announced in July of 2019. The U.S. Air Force is continuing to provide alternative water supply to those properties, and the Delaware Division of Public Health is working with DNREC, USAF, Dover AFB, and the owners of the affected wells to protect public health.

Officials say validation of the data is expected within 30 days. No PFOS or PFOA have been detected in five nearby municipal water wells tested by Dover AFB’s water supplier, Tidewater Utilities. We’re told that Tidewater sampled four on-base municipal supply wells and the off-base municipal supply well closest to the base, and there were no PFOS or PFOA detections in any of them.

Anyone with general questions about the health effects from and exposure to PFAS can call the Division of Health at 302-744-4546.