WPAFB water treatment plants flunk EPA's new test for PFAS
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – A new report shows at least two of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's three water treatment plants are coming up short when it comes to 'forever chemicals,' with only four years to fix the issue.
The testing follows new regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in June 2024 that set new maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for certain chemicals in drinking water.
The regulations also require public water drinking systems to be below those maximum levels by April 29, 2029.
Why is the EPA regulating PFAS and what are these 'forever chemicals'?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have recently come under scutiny for their potential connection to cancer in humans. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, PFAS are used to make products resistant to water, grease and heat.
The testing at two plants in Area A and one in Area B checked the water for six individual chemicals.
Contaminants weren't detectible in the water at one of the Area A plants. At the other plant in the area, the average levels of one chemical exceeded the MCL.
Water from 45% of US faucets contains PFAS: study
At the Area B plant, the average levels of three of the six chemicals exceed the maximum allowed.
The full test results can be viewed on the WPAFB website.
The base said it is committed to taking further action to address any potential risks and enhance water quality. It wrote that it has spent more than $61 million since 2014 on environmental cleanup efforts, including PFAS monitoring and the installation of treatment systems for PFAS contamination in groundwater and surface water.
WPAFB is planning to install more water treatment systems – the funding for these is still pending.
The new rules require public notification of the testing by 2027. However, WPAFB is already sharing its findings. The water is regularly tested from all three treatment plants on a monthly and quarterly basis.
To learn more about Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's water testing, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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