PFAS have been used in many household and industrial products because of their stain- and water-repellent properties. PFAS are now present virtually everywhere in the world because of the large amounts that have been manufactured and used. Once these compounds are released, many of them tend to stay in the environment for a very long time.
The most common activity that could have resulted in the historical release of PFAS to the environment at NAS Jacksonville (Figure 1) is the use of firefighting foam (specifically, aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF). Due to this historical use, PFAS are present in the groundwater on base and previously warranted the evaluation of nearby private drinking water wells located in the direction that groundwater flows away from the base.
On April 26, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) establishing nationwide drinking water standards for certain PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The regulation applies to public drinking water systems. Operators of public drinking water systems regulated by the NPDWR have until April 26, 2029 to meet these standards. In September 2024, the Department of War (DoW) published “Prioritization of Department of Defense Cleanup Actions to Implement the Federal Drinking Water Standards for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program,” which describes the DOW’s plans to incorporate the EPA’s drinking water regulation into DoW’s ongoing PFAS cleanups and prioritize actions to address private drinking water wells with the highest levels of PFAS from DoW activities. Table 1 shows the DoW PFAS Interim Action Levels for Private Drinking Water Wells and EPA NPDWR Levels.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2026 was signed into law on December 18, 2025. This allows the Navy to offer interim actions (such as connection to public drinking water or a treatment system) for downgradient households in the community that receive water from private drinking water wells where levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and/or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) exceed the EPA NPDWR Levels. As of that date, at least one home in the community qualified for alternative drinking water from the Navy as a result of a PFAS release at NAS Jacksonville.
Table 1 presents the DoW PFAS Interim Action Levels for Private Drinking Water Wells (DoW 2024) and EPA NPDWR Levels. The DoW’s September 2024 memorandum can be found here.
Table 1: EPA NPDWR Levels for Public Water Systems and DoW PFAS Interim Action Levels for Private Drinking Water Wells
| PFAS |
EPA NPDWR Level for Public Water Systems |
DoW PFAS Interim Action Level for Private Drinking Water Wells1 |
| perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) |
4 ppt |
12 parts per trillion (ppt) |
| perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) |
4 ppt |
12 ppt |
| perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) |
10 ppt |
30 ppt |
| perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) |
10 ppt |
30 ppt |
| hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, or GenX) |
10 ppt |
30 ppt |
| hazard index for mixture of at least two of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) |
1 (no units) |
3 (no units) |
ppt = part(s) per trillion
1 These levels are based on current EPA NPDWR levels. If EPA updates applicable requirements, DoW will review and update its policy as appropriate.
PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELL SAMPLING NEAR NAS JACKSONVILLE
Certain PFAS have been detected in groundwater at NAS Jacksonville and in private drinking water wells above the DoW PFAS Interim Action Levels for Private Drinking Water Wells. As a result of the detections at NAS Jacksonville, sampling areas (Figure 2) were established 1 mile in the direction that groundwater flows away from the locations of these detections and subsequently expanded based on results for private drinking water wells sampled in those areas.
2026 PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELL SAMPLING
At this time, the Navy is requesting property owner permission to sample private drinking water wells in the sampling areas near NAS Jacksonville (Figure 2). Considering the levels in Table 1, the Navy has determined that the private drinking water well sampling area near NAS Jacksonville should be expanded. Due to improvements in laboratory methods, the Navy is also requesting property owner permission to resample private drinking water wells that were sampled by the Navy in 2018. If your drinking water is provided by the Jacksonville Electric Authority, the Navy does not need to sample your drinking water.
The samples will be sent to an accredited, independent laboratory. The laboratory will analyze for the presence of certain PFAS according to EPA-approved methods. The laboratory will then provide the Navy with preliminary results, after which the preliminary results will be validated by an independent third-party for quality assurance. Once the results are validated, they will be provided to property owners and tenants, approximately 3 months after sampling.
Figure 2 - Sampling Areas
PREVIOUS 2018 PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELL SAMPLING
In 2018, the Navy sampled private drinking water wells based on information that was available at that time about PFAS releases at NAS Jacksonville. The 2018 sampling area, shown in Figure 2, was established 1 mile in the direction that groundwater flows away from a known PFAS release area. Table 2 provides a summary of the results of the 2018 sampling. No wells had detections of PFOA and/or PFOS above 70 ppt, the Navy’s action level at the time. Table 3 presents the PFAS results.
Table 2: NAS Jacksonville – 2018 Private Drinking Water Well Results Summary
| Year |
Number of Wells Sampled |
Number of wells with no detections of PFAS with DoW PFAS Interim Action Levels for Private Drinking Water Wells |
Number of wells with detections of PFAS below the EPA NPDWR Levels |
Number of wells with detections of PFAS below the DoW PFAS Interim Action Levels for Private Drinking Water Wells above the EPA NPDWR Levels |
Number of wells with detections of PFAS at or above DoW PFAS Interim Action Levels for Private Drinking Water Wells and PFOA and/or PFOS below 70 ppt* |
Number of wells with detections of PFOA and/or PFOS above 70 ppt* |
| 2018 |
21 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
*70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, individually or combined, was the Navy’s action level at the time of this sampling.
The Navy has reevaluated the 2018 private drinking water well results. Based on this information, the Navy has determined that private drinking water wells sampled near NAS Jacksonville contain PFAS at or above the DoW PFAS Interim Action Levels for Private Drinking Water Wells or PFOA and/or PFOS above EPA NPDWR Levels (Table 1). The Navy is requesting property owner permission to implement interim actions to address PFAS in drinking water at the locations where PFAS exceeds the DoW PFAS Interim Action Level for Private Drinking Water Wells (Table 2). The Navy will also offer to implement interim actions at locations where PFOA and/or PFOS exceed the EPA NPDWR Levels.
Table 3: NAS Jacksonville – 2018 - Private Drinking Water Well Results
| Sample1 |
PFOA (ppt) |
PFOS (ppt) |
PFOA+PFOS2 (ppt) |
PFNA (ppt) |
PFHxS (ppt) |
HFPO-DA (ppt) |
PFBS (ppt) |
Hazard Index3 |
| 1 |
3.02 |
0.73 J |
3.75 |
ND |
ND |
NA |
ND |
NC |
| 2 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
NA |
ND |
NC |
| 3 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
NA |
ND |
NC |
| 4 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
NA |
ND |
NC |
| 5 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
NA |
ND |
NC |
| 6 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
NA |
ND |
NC |
| 7 |
0.72 J |
1.9 J |
2.62 |
ND |
1.42 J |
NA |
0.84 J |
0.14 |
| 8 |
1.63 J |
5.08 |
6.71 |
ND |
1.18 J |
NA |
0.78 J |
0.12 |
| 9 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
NA |
ND |
NC |
| 10 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
NA |
ND |
NC |
| 11 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
NA |
ND |
NC |
| 12 |
2.95 |
3.89 |
6.84 |
ND |
4.61 |
NA |
1.27 J |
0.46 |
| 13 |
6.97 |
9.58 |
16.55 |
ND |
11.62 |
NA |
7.2 |
1.17 |
| 14 |
0.84 J |
ND |
0.84 |
ND |
1.36 J |
NA |
1.05 J |
0.14 |
| 15 |
12.19 |
19.53 |
31.72 |
ND |
22.2 |
NA |
12.63 |
2.23 |
| 16 |
2.48 J |
6.5 |
8.98 |
ND |
2.71 |
NA |
2.31 J |
0.27 |
| 17 |
7.81 |
12.44 |
20.25 |
ND |
9.24 |
NA |
8.46 |
0.93 |
| 18 |
6.06 |
7.5 |
13.56 |
ND |
8.25 |
NA |
2.91 |
0.83 |
| 19 |
10.23 |
13.92 |
24.15 |
ND |
16.36 |
NA |
9.09 |
1.64 |
| 20 |
2.01 J |
4.15 |
6.16 |
ND |
3.16 |
NA |
1.23 J |
0.32 |
| 21 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
ND |
NA |
ND |
NC |
1Displays the highest detected value of each PFAS analyte shown on this table per drinking water well sampled. Sample numbers demonstrate the number of wells that have been sampled but sample numbers do not correspond to a specific property.
2For any drinking water wells with PFOA and/or PFOS individually or combined above 70 ppt, the Navy can provide bottled water for drinking and cooking until a more enduring solution is implemented.
3HI = Hazard Index. Calculated for HFPO-DA, PFBS, PFNA, and PFHxS when two or more of these compounds are detected in the sample. Calculated per EPA recommendations (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for Three Individual Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and a Mixture of Four PFAS, 2024) as follows:
Hazard Index (unitless) = (HPFO-DA (ppt) / 10 (ppt)) + (PFBS (ppt) / 2000 (ppt)) + (PFNA (ppt) / 10 (ppt)) + (PFHxS (ppt) / 10 (ppt))
PFOA+PFOS is only calculated when both are detected.
NA = not analyzed
NC = not calculated
ND = not detected
J = Result is estimated
ppt = parts per trillion
ACTIONS BASED ON PRIVATE DRINKING WATER SAMPLING RESULTS
The preliminary results from the private drinking water well sampling are expected approximately 30 days after collecting the samples. The Navy will provide notification to the property owners and tenants of their drinking water results and any follow-up actions, if needed.
The Navy will address PFAS in private drinking water wells in keeping with the DoW policies and the 2026 NDAA:
PFAS at or above the DoW PFAS Interim Action Levels for Private Drinking Water Wells (Table 1). The Navy will work with property owners to implement an enduring solution as soon as possible. Options for enduring solutions may include connection to public water or installation of a drinking water treatment system. For any drinking water wells with PFOA and PFOS, individually or combined, above 70 ppt, the Navy can provide bottled water for drinking and cooking to property owners or tenants until a more enduring solution is implemented.
PFOA and/or PFOS at or above the EPA NPDWR Levels (Table 1). Where PFOS and/or PFOA levels in private drinking water exceed the EPA NPDWR Levels due solely to Navy activities on its installation, the Navy will offer an enduring drinking water solution as soon as possible.
For final remedial actions, the Navy will address PFAS in private drinking water wells down to EPA NPDWR Levels or background levels in accordance with Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) requirements.
IDENTIFICATION OF PFAS RELEASES AT NAS WHITING FIELD
The Navy finalized a PFAS Preliminary Assessment (PA) in 2020 that identified areas where releases of PFAS may have occurred. Based on the results of the PFAS PA, the Navy completed a PFAS Site Inspection (SI). Sample collection and analyses of soil and groundwater were conducted from May to October 2021. PFAS were found in groundwater and soil at NAS Jacksonville. The PFAS release areas investigated at NAS Jacksonville are listed below and shown on Figure 3. Remedial investigations are ongoing at the following release areas:
- Casa Linda Oaks Golf Course (OU 4, PSC 21)
- Crash Station, Building 936
- DLA-DS, formerly named DRMO (OU 7, PSC 46)
- Domestic sludge drying beds
- East Hush House, Building 770
- EWWTP (OU 11, PSC 55)
- Electroplating Shop, Building 794
- FFTA Pond north of WWTP
- FFTA (PCA 15)
- Fire Dept Warehouse, Building 193
- Flying Club, Building 841 (PCA 09)
- Former Electroplating Shop (Building 101) (PSC 11)
- Former IWWTP sludge drying beds (PSC 42) and serpentine pond (PSC 43)
- FRCSE IWWTP, Building 780 (OU 3)
- Hangar 1000 (OU 6)
- Hangar 1002
- Hangar 1122
- Hangar 511
- Harrier jet fire near Hangar 117
- Kemen Test Cell, Building 873 (PCA 02)
- Old Landfill (OU 1, PSC 26/27)
- Paul Nelson Applied Instructional Building, Building 926
- Pesticide Shop area release (PSC 47)
- Recycling Center, Building 623
- Sludge from EWWTP (OU 11, PSC 55)
- Sludge from IWWTP (OU 2, PSC 4)
- South Antenna Field (near PSC 51)
- WWTP effluent for irrigation for off-site golf course
- West Hush House, Building 777 (PCA 11)
The Navy will continue investigating PFAS at NAS Jacksonville following the CERCLA process and will evaluate if actions are needed. To find out more about all of the environmental investigations at NAS Jacksonville, visit https://www.navfac.navy.mil/NASJax.
Figure 3 - PFAS Release Areas at NAS Jacksonville
NAS JACKSONVILLE PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELL SAMPLING DOCUMENTS - CURRENT INVESTIGATION
NAS JACKSONVILLE PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELL SAMPLING DOCUMENTS - PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS
LINKS