A service of Salisbury University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Support Provided By: (Sponsored Content)

Pollution Not Found in Dover Air Force Base Drinking Water

dover.af.mil

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) - Officials at Dover Air Force Base say chemical compounds used in firefighting foam have been found at four sites on base, but not in drinking water supply wells.

Officials said Monday that an investigation detected perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs, in shallow groundwater and some surface drainage ditches in levels above Environmental Protection Agency recommended limits. They noted that the base obtains drinking water from a deep confined groundwater aquifer that is isolated from the aquifer where the contaminants were found.

Officials say the contaminants are being managed under federal environmental standards and that a preliminary assessment and site inspection will be done this year to identify any remaining locations were PFCs may have been released to the environment.

A decision will then be made on whether cleanup actions are necessary.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.
Related Stories
  1. MD Lawmakers Urged to Tighten Pollution Greenhouse Act
  2. Two More Contaminated Wells Found Near Dover Air Force Base
  3. $700,000 EPA Grant for Eliminating Lead in Drinking Water
  4. House Approves $455 Million for Bay Cleanup Over Five Years
  5. $70,000 Pollution Fine Ordered for Delaware City Refining Company
Help us continue our comprehensive coverage of the Delmarva Peninsula and the mentoring of the broadcasters and journalists of tomorrow by becoming a sustaining member of Delmarva Public Media