Fort Liberty finds PFAS in private wells near base, looks to expand testing as part of EPA’s national program

Read the full article by Evey Weisblat (CityView NC)

“If you live in Spring Lake within a one-mile radius of Fort Liberty and draw your water from a well, there’s a likelihood you’ve been exposed to high levels of so-called ‘forever chemicals’ discharged from the military installation.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl, is a group of about 15,000 man-made chemicals. Exposure to PFAS is linked to a number of adverse health effects, ranging from cancer to heart disease to reproductive issues. The toxic chemicals are pervasive and long-lasting in the environment and in humans exposed through drinking water, food and household items, among other exposure paths.

Fort Liberty and the U.S. Army Environmental Command officials announced in a press conference Thursday they’d tested 12 private wells within one mile of the military installation’s perimeter. The result: four had levels of PFAS higher than allowed under the Environmental Protection Agency’s new rules, which will go into effect nationally in 2029.”…