Naval Air Station Whidbey Island

Off-Base PFAS Drinking Water Investigation

The Navy started the off-base drinking water investigation on Whidbey Island in November 2016. From November 2016 through May 2022, the Navy sampled 287 drinking water wells near Ault Field, OLF Coupeville, and the Area 6 Landfill for PFAS. Of the total 287 wells, samples collected from 16 wells (36 homes) are above the 2016 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) lifetime drinking water health advisories of 70 parts per trillion (ppt), individually or combined, for two commonly used and studied PFAS, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The Navy conducted four phases of drinking water sampling near Ault Field, two phases near OLF Coupeville, and two phases near Area 6 Landfill. The Navy held several public meetings from 2016-2018 to share the plan for off-base drinking water sampling and associated results. Residents in the sampling areas were notified by letter and can arrange sampling -- if they haven't already done so -- by calling 360-396-6387. We encourage residents in the sampling areas to have their wells sampled. See “Documents” below for factsheets and posters developed for the public meetings.

The Navy is providing bottled water or kitchen sink filter to well owners/users with impacted drinking water wells above the 2016 EPA’s health advisory until a long-term solution is implemented. The Navy updates property owners on their results as they become available. Out of respect to residents' privacy, location-specific test results will only be released by the Navy to the affected residents. However, the Navy will post anonymous test results at https://denix.osd.mil/dod-pfas/section-345-data-search/section-345-data-reporting/ such that the public is informed of the general results in drinking water wells around NAS Whidbey Island.

In October 2017, the Navy began biannual sampling of drinking water wells where PFAS were detected, and drinking water wells adjacent to properties with PFAS exceedances. These are precautionary measures to ensure residents living near our installations are not being exposed to PFAS in off-base drinking water.

The Navy continues to work directly with residents, community leaders and other federal, state and local agencies on this important national issue and will keep the community informed while respecting the privacy of individual residents.

Drinking Water in Coupeville near OLF Coupeville:
The Navy identified eight drinking water wells (associated with 11 homes) above the EPA’s health advisory. The Navy identified connecting the affected residences to the Town of Coupeville drinking water distribution system and adding granular activated carbon adsorption treatment to the Town of Coupeville’s Water Treatment Plant, as the most protective and efficient long-term solution to address PFAS in private drinking water wells.

Major milestones:

July 2019: Started treating Town’s water for PFAS
March 2020: Completed connections of seven homes to Town’s water supply
January 2021: Completed final improvements to the Town of Coupeville’s Water Treatment Plant for PFAS
Spring 2023: Plan to start final waterline connections for remaining four homes (see Coupeville Waterline Extension Fact Sheet, August 2022 under Documents below)

Drinking Water in Oak Harbor near Area 6 Landfill and Ault Field:
The Navy identified eight drinking water wells (associated with 26 homes) above the EPA’s health advisory. Based on the site-specific situation for each home, the following solutions were identified for the long-term solution:

Connection to nearby Public Water Supply (one home associated with one well)
Connection to City of Oak Harbor Water Supply (24 homes connected with six wells)
New (replacement) Drinking Water Well (one home associated with one well)

Major milestones:

November 2021: Completed connections to new well and to Navy waterline for two homes
June 2022: Completed connections to the City of Oak Harbor water system for 24 homes

Across the country, the Navy has been conducting base-wide evaluations to identify additional potential PFAS releases. These evaluations are being conducted under the Navy’s Environmental Restoration Program which meets the requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Following CERCLA, the Navy’s base-wide assessments are called preliminary assessments/site inspections, and their purpose is to verify, validate, and update the inventory of PFAS release sites aboard the installation for further investigation and cleanup.

At NAS Whidbey Island, the Navy has completed preliminary assessments for Ault Field (including the Area 6 Landfill), Outlying Landing Field (OLF) Coupeville, and Seaplane Base. The Navy is at varying stages of the program at these sites.

Ault Field (including Area 6)
https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/Facilities-Engineering-Commands/NAVFAC-Northwest/About-Us/Environmental-Stewardship/Environmental-Restoration/PFAS-Groundwater-and-Drinking-Water-Investigation/Naval-Air-Station-Whidbey-Island/Ault-Field-including-Area-6/

Coupeville
https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/Facilities-Engineering-Commands/NAVFAC-Northwest/About-Us/Environmental-Stewardship/Environmental-Restoration/PFAS-Groundwater-and-Drinking-Water-Investigation/Naval-Air-Station-Whidbey-Island/Coupeville/

Seaplane Base
https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/Facilities-Engineering-Commands/NAVFAC-Northwest/About-Us/Environmental-Stewardship/Environmental-Restoration/PFAS-Groundwater-and-Drinking-Water-Investigation/Naval-Air-Station-Whidbey-Island/Seaplane-Base/

If you have any questions, please contact one of the Public Affairs Officers listed below.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mike Welding, NASWI Public Affairs Officer
Email: michael.welding@navy.mil
Office: 360-257-2962
Mobile: 360-914-7915

PUBLIC CONTACT
Sarah Lincoln, NAVFAC Northwest Public Affairs Officer
Email: sarah.g.lincoln.civ@us.navy.mil
Office: 360-396-6387
Mobile: 360-340-5592