PFAS Contamination Near Military Bases: Risks, Resources, and What to Do

Why Military Bases Are Ground Zero for PFAS

If you live near a military installation, your drinking water may face a significantly higher risk of PFAS contamination than the national average. Military bases have been identified as one of the largest sources of PFAS pollution in the United States — and the contamination often extends far beyond base boundaries into surrounding communities.

The cause is a product called aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) — a firefighting suppressant used at military airfields, fire training areas, and crash response sites since the 1960s. AFFF contains extremely high concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and related compounds. Decades of training exercises, storage, and accidental spills have saturated the soil and groundwater at hundreds of installations nationwide.

The Scale of the Problem

The Department of Defense has identified over 700 military installations in the United States with confirmed or suspected PFAS contamination in groundwater. These include:

• Air Force and Navy airfields where AFFF was regularly used during flight training and crash fire response
• Fire training areas where crews practiced on live fuel fires using AFFF
• Aircraft maintenance facilities where AFFF systems were regularly tested
• Storage sites where AFFF concentrates were kept in above-ground tanks that have since leaked

The contamination is not contained to the bases themselves. PFAS plumes migrate through groundwater and can travel miles from the original source, reaching private wells, municipal water intakes, and surface water bodies used by surrounding communities. People who have lived near military bases for years or decades — even those who never set foot on the installation — may have experienced prolonged PFAS exposure.

States Most Affected

Military PFAS contamination is concentrated in states with large numbers of active and former bases. States with the highest number of documented military PFAS sites include:

• Michigan — Multiple Air Force and Army installations with extensive PFAS plumes
• New York — Multiple Air National Guard bases and former Air Force installations
• Colorado — Buckley Air Force Base and other installations near Denver
• California — Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, El Toro, and other sites
• North Carolina — Camp Lejeune (also subject to a separate federal contamination investigation)
• Virginia — Multiple Navy and Army installations
• Florida — Tyndall, Eglin, and MacDill Air Force Bases

This is not an exhaustive list. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) maintains an interactive map of military PFAS contamination sites that you can search by location.

The PACT Act and Veterans’ Health

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, signed into law in 2022, expanded VA healthcare eligibility for veterans potentially exposed to toxic substances — including PFAS from AFFF — during military service.

Under the PACT Act:

• Veterans who served at contaminated bases may be eligible for VA healthcare for conditions associated with PFAS exposure, including certain cancers
• The VA is required to study the health impacts of AFFF exposure on service members
• Veterans no longer need to prove a direct service connection for conditions on the presumptive list tied to toxic exposures

If you are a veteran who served at a base with known PFAS contamination, contact the VA or a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) to review your eligibility for expanded benefits.

What the DoD Is Required to Do

Under the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) passed in 2019 and subsequent years, the Department of Defense is required to:

1. Test groundwater and drinking water at all installations
2. Provide alternative water to affected communities if contamination is attributed to DoD sources
3. Remediate contaminated sites — though this process is slow and expensive
4. Phase out AFFF and transition to fluorine-free firefighting foam alternatives

Progress has been uneven. Remediation at some bases is decades away from completion. Many affected communities continue to rely on contaminated groundwater while DoD cleanup efforts proceed.

If You Live Near a Military Base

Whether you receive water from a public utility or a private well, living near a military installation warrants extra vigilance about PFAS.

If you’re on a public water system:

• Look up your ZIP code on CheckPFAS to see what UCMR 5 testing found in your area
• Check whether your utility has issued any PFAS-related public notices
• Request your utility’s most recent Consumer Confidence Report

If you’re on a private well:

• EPA MCLs do not apply to private wells — testing is your responsibility
• Contact your state environmental agency or county health department about free or subsidized PFAS testing programs (many states offer these specifically for residents near military bases)
• A certified lab test for PFAS costs $150–$400 and covers all major regulated compounds

Regardless of your water source:

• A reverse osmosis filter removes 99%+ of PFAS from drinking water and is the recommended solution for high-risk situations
• If you have children, installing point-of-use filtration at the kitchen tap is especially important
• Browse our filter reviews for certified systems at every price point

Health Monitoring

If you have lived near a contaminated military base for an extended period, consider discussing PFAS blood testing with your physician. The 2022 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report established clinical guidance for PFAS blood levels — your doctor can use this to determine whether additional health monitoring is warranted. See our health effects article for the specific thresholds.

PFAS contamination near military bases is one of the most serious and underappreciated environmental health crises in the United States. If this affects your community, you deserve accurate information and the means to protect your family. Check your water now using our free ZIP code lookup.