Sources of Military Base Water Contamination
For decades, military personnel and their families have unknowingly consumed water tainted with dangerous chemicals. This contamination stems from several sources, from firefighting foam used in training exercises to leaking fuel tanks and improper waste disposal. If you or someone you love lived or worked on a contaminated military base and developed health problems, you may have grounds for a military base water contamination lawsuit.
Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
The most widespread source of contamination stems from firefighting foam used extensively across military bases since the 1960s. AFFF, designed to extinguish jet fuel fires and shipboard blazes, contains PFAS chemicals. These substances do not break down naturally and accumulate in your body over time.
Military firefighters sprayed this foam during countless training exercises, often directly onto the ground. The chemicals then seeped into soil and groundwater, contaminating drinking water supplies. While the military banned most AFFF training in 2020, the damage was already done.
Some bases now show PFAS levels exceeding one million parts per trillion—astronomical compared to the EPA’s proposed safety standard of just four parts per trillion. If you lived or worked on a military base, there is a strong possibility you were exposed to these persistent chemicals through your drinking water, potentially for years.
Industrial Solvents Used on Bases
Military installations have relied on industrial solvents since at least the 1950s, often with devastating consequences. Dry cleaning operations and equipment maintenance generated chemicals like trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE). When improperly disposed of, these toxins infiltrate groundwater systems.
Camp Lejeune in North Carolina is the most notorious example of solvent contamination on military bases. Thousands of service members and families consumed tainted water for decades before authorities acknowledged the problem.
Underground Storage Tanks
Without proper monitoring systems, underground fuel storage tanks can leak for years before anyone detects the problem. When these tanks fail, they release petroleum products and chemicals directly into the surrounding soil and groundwater. Regulations now mandate double-walled tanks with monitoring devices, but many older military bases still have outdated single-walled systems.
Jet Fuel Contamination
Jet fuel leaks introduce benzene, toluene, xylene, and other toxic compounds into drinking water. The contamination spreads over time, with affected areas sometimes doubling in size between five and ten years after the initial leak. The 2021 incident at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where jet fuel contaminated water serving over 93,000 people, shows how quickly these situations can become catastrophic.
Landfills and Dumps
Improper waste disposal practices have created long-term contamination problems at numerous installations. When hazardous materials are dumped in landfills without adequate protection, chemicals gradually leach into groundwater supplies. These exposure risks can persist for decades and cause serious health problems.
Were You Affected by Water Contamination on a Military Base?
Learning that you or a loved one may have been exposed to contaminated water at a military base is deeply troubling. In these situations, you have the right to seek justice. Hundreds of people across the country are filing lawsuits against those responsible for military water contamination to recover compensation for the harm they suffered.
A military water contamination attorney can represent your claim and fight for the full compensation you are entitled to receive. Contact us to schedule a free legal consultation to learn about your legal options and start building your case today.