Suspected source: Firefighting foam used at Eielson Air Force Base
In 2015, PFOA and PFOS levels above the LTHA were detected in 150 of 152 tested drinking water wells in Moose Creek (range: 0.01–2.24 ppb), a community located adjacent to Eielson Airforce Base. AFFF was used at the Base for years, likely starting in the 1980s. The Air Force provided bottled water to the households exceeding the LTHA, and later equipped them with granulated activated carbon filters or a water tank.
Since the discovery of PFOS in drinking water wells on-base, the Air Force discontinued the use of the wells from which samples exceeded the EPA Public Health Advisory (PHA) level. The Air Force then initiated groundwater sampling near the northern boundary of the base, in order to find out whether PFOS could be migrating off-base. Results showed widespread contamination, with PFOS exceeding the PHA level in groundwater from 10 feet to 100 feet below ground surface.
See a detailed history of investigation and remediation activities here
Additional Resources:
- Site Profile: Eielson Air Force Base
- Eielson Air Force Base Investigates Off-Base Migration of Contaminated Groundwater
- Alaska Dept. of Health & Human Services PFOS Fact Sheet
- Action Memorandum for a Time-Critical Removal Action Of PFC-Contaminated Water at Moose Creek, Alaska
- Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance in Three Alaska Communities
Media Coverage:
- Air Force to test Moose Creek wells for groundwater contamination
- Groundwater Contamination Spreads off Eielson Air Force Base
- Military checking for water contamination in national sweep that includes Alaska
- Fairbanks airfields convert to alternative firefighting foam over contamination concerns
Full citations are available on the second page of the full contamination site tracker. We ask for your additions, changes, questions and comments be sent to pfasproject@gmail.com.