Drinking water sources for 7.5 million in CA are contaminated
Data reported by the California State Water Resources Control Board shows that drinking water sources for 7.5 million people in California are contaminated with PFAS. At least 74 water systems were found to have well water containing the “forever chemicals.” The water systems conducted the tests between 2013 and 2019. The tests show the levels of carcinogens in municipal wells before possible treatment.
The state tested civilian airports, municipal solid waste landfills, and drinking water sources within a 1-mile radius of wells already known to contain PFAS. With a few exceptions, the testing stayed away from communities close to military installations. A total of 19,228 parts per trillion (ppt) of the 14 kinds of PFAS tested were found in those 308 wells. 51% were either PFOS or PFOA while the remaining 49% were other varieties of PFAS. (See the results below)
Meanwhile, just five wells tested at China Lake Naval Air Station, Port Hueneme Naval Base Ventura County, Mather Air Force Base, Tustin USMC Air Station, and Travis Air Force Base showed 11,472,000 ppt, of PFOS + PFOA. If the roughly 50-50 split between PFOS/PFOA and other PFAS contaminants found in 308 wells tested throughout the state is any indication, these five installations may be responsible for PFAS contamination at levels above 20,000,000 ppt. That's a thousand times more than the level of contaminants found in 308 wells scattered around the state.
More than 50 military bases are known to have used PFAS in California. See the raw data here.
The list below shows what was in the well water when it was tested, not necessarily what is coming out of residential taps now. Consumers must determine that for themselves. People who drink from private wells may be at much greater risk. Neither California nor the federal government regulate private wells.
The state tested civilian airports, municipal solid waste landfills, and drinking water sources within a 1-mile radius of wells already known to contain PFAS. With a few exceptions, the testing stayed away from communities close to military installations. A total of 19,228 parts per trillion (ppt) of the 14 kinds of PFAS tested were found in those 308 wells. 51% were either PFOS or PFOA while the remaining 49% were other varieties of PFAS. (See the results below)
Meanwhile, just five wells tested at China Lake Naval Air Station, Port Hueneme Naval Base Ventura County, Mather Air Force Base, Tustin USMC Air Station, and Travis Air Force Base showed 11,472,000 ppt, of PFOS + PFOA. If the roughly 50-50 split between PFOS/PFOA and other PFAS contaminants found in 308 wells tested throughout the state is any indication, these five installations may be responsible for PFAS contamination at levels above 20,000,000 ppt. That's a thousand times more than the level of contaminants found in 308 wells scattered around the state.
More than 50 military bases are known to have used PFAS in California. See the raw data here.
The list below shows what was in the well water when it was tested, not necessarily what is coming out of residential taps now. Consumers must determine that for themselves. People who drink from private wells may be at much greater risk. Neither California nor the federal government regulate private wells.
Harvard health professionals say 1 part per trillion of PFAS is potentially dangerous in drinking water.
Clean water is a big deal in California and the military has poisoned a lot of it. Use the search engine above to find the closest sources of military-produced carcinogens to you. The current round of testing only covers a fraction of the municipal water wells in the state.
Clean water is a big deal in California and the military has poisoned a lot of it. Use the search engine above to find the closest sources of military-produced carcinogens to you. The current round of testing only covers a fraction of the municipal water wells in the state.
