Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico is investigating a 7,000-gallon spill of water contaminated with PFAS at its fire training area.
The spill occurred between July 9 and July 15, 2024, as part of an effort to remove PFAS-containing firefighting foams from the base’s emergency vehicles. However, base leadership wasn’t informed of the spill until early August.
Unfortunately, this mishap is similar to a story we recently covered that occurred at a former Navy Base in Maine. The spill in New Mexico happened around a month before the event in Maine, with the volume of the spill being about half of what it was in Maine. The fact that this has occurred twice in such a short time span is concerning.
What Happened?
The contaminated water, known as “rinsate,” was deposited into a lined retention pond at the base. After the base’s leadership was notified (a month later), the water was removed from the pond and stored in secure containers. An independent third-party inspector was hired to examine the pond’s liner for any damage.
On August 23, the inspector discovered several tears in the liner, raising concerns that the PFAS-laden water could have seeped into the surrounding soil and groundwater. As of now, Cannon officials are maintaining that the base’s drinking water wells are located upstream of the spill area and are not affected.
More on the Investigation
In response to the spill, base commander Col. Robert Johnston ordered an investigation to determine how the contaminated water ended up in the retention pond. He also appointed a task force to review the base’s environmental compliance policies and procedures. This includes a comprehensive look at how such incidents can be avoided in the future through improved training and stricter adherence to regulations, according to Johnston.
Samples from the affected area are being collected and analyzed to determine the full extent of the contamination. Should any PFAS chemicals reach the groundwater, the base’s existing pump-and-treat system is expected to capture them before they can spread.
Ongoing PFAS Issues at Cannon
This issue is part of an ongoing problem with PFAS contamination at Cannon Air Force Base. Even before this incident, PFAS have spread into the groundwater, reaching at least 2.5 miles beyond the base and impacting nearby farms and dairies. In some cases, the PFAS levels in local water supplies have been higher than federal safety limits, causing serious problems for local agriculture.
One of the most significant impacts has been on Highland Dairy in Clovis, New Mexico. In 2018, PFAS from the base seeped into the groundwater, contaminating the dairy’s water supply. Testing revealed that the cows and their milk contained unsafe levels of PFAS, which led to the farmer, Art Schaap, being forced to euthanize several thousand cows, with others dying soon after.
The financial loss for the farm was estimated at nearly $6 million. Despite this, the U.S. Department of Defense has not taken full responsibility for the contamination, leaving the state of New Mexico to cover much of the cleanup costs, including $850,000 for the proper disposal of the contaminated livestock.
In response to growing concerns, the Department of Defense has begun transitioning to fluorine-free firefighting foam, but incidents like the recent spill highlight the challenges of managing legacy contamination.
Public Impact and Response
While base officials continue to investigate the spill, they intend to provide updates on the investigation and cleanup efforts at a quarterly public meeting on November 12th, 2024.
The New Mexico Environment Department offered free PFAS blood tests to residents living near the base from September 12th through the 18th, with another testing event scheduled from October 3rd through the 9th.
This effort aims to assess potential human exposure to the chemicals from the ongoing contamination.
What’s Next?
The task force created by Col. Johnston will assess the current environmental policies and attempt to ensure compliance moving forward. The base is also closely monitoring the area where the spill occurred, taking samples to determine whether any additional remediation efforts will be necessary.
What You Can Do
If you live near Cannon Air Force Base or any area affected by PFAS contamination (so basically if you live anywhere), here are some practical steps you can take to reduce PFAS contamination through drinking water:
- Check Your Water: Reach out to your local water supplier to ask if PFAS have been detected. Or, check EWG’s Tap Water Database to see if PFAS have been detected in your water supply. (The EWG Tap Water Database aggregates publicly available data into an easy to use map.) If you have well water, you will need to test it for PFAS yourself.
- Filter Your Water: Consider using a water filter designed to remove PFAS. Here are the most affordable brands I’ve found. I cannot recommend water filters enough. After all, you deserve clean water!
- Reduce PFAS in Products: Water is not the only source of PFAS exposure. Choose alternatives to common PFAS-containing products like cookware and water-repellent clothing. Minimizing packaged and to-go food can help too.
- Stay Engaged: Attend public meetings and engage with local officials to stay informed about ongoing cleanup efforts and potential health risks where you live. Pressure your representatives to pass legislation that will phase PFAS out of the marketplace.
