I just returned about a meeting about water the Navy contaminated in MY NEIGHBORHOOD. The meeting held at the Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship near Coupeville was filled to overflowing Fortunately for me my community well happens to test negative for PFAs. The Navy is doing everything to it can to keep this out of the news, only disclosing the information at a little attended public meeting supposedly about restoration. All so more people don’t ask to have their wells tested. You see the Navy wants to expand operations at their Outlying Field (the one contaminated site of 340 possible contamination sites the Navy has identified here on my island), along with expanding the earsplitting noise their flights inflict on my neighborhood. The Navy is determined to go ahead with the expanded operations despite the vocal opposition from many of the field’s neighbors, who came together to form CORE
Citizens of Ebeys Reserve.
SOME WHIDBEY ISLAND RESIDENTS FOUND TO HAVE CONTAMINATED WELLS
by KOMO Staff
COUPEVILLE, Wash. -- Some neighbors on Whidbey Island are being advised not to drink their water due to contaminated wells.
Last month, the Navy began testing wells on Whidbey Island for certain chemicals called PFAs, used in a firefighting foam during accidents and training. Testing is going on nationwide, but on Whidbey Island, there are 340 potential sites. And so far, 34 results have come back, and three sites were above safe levels.
One of those wells belonged to Stephen Swanson. A retired ER doctor, Swanson has been drinking water from his Coupeville well for 19 years. But test from the Navy showed well in his water was over six times what the EPA says is safe. He says he has no idea how long the well has been contaminated.
"I feel very depressed," Swanson said. "It's hard not being able to do anything about this. I've always been able to work around problems."
A well for the town of Coupeville also showed the chemical, but below the safety threshold.
Swanson spoke at length at the meeting. Now because of the contaminated groundwater he can’t sell his home, or grow green leafy vegetables if he waters them with from his well.
PFAs are used in firefighting foam the Navy still uses despite a green alternative being available. It’s a compound that never breaks down in nature, it just becomes more dilute and migrates into the aquifer driven by rains. There is on fresh source of surface water on the island outside of the Island’s largest town Oak Harbor which has theirs piped onto the island from a source along the nearby Skagit River.
My home is about 1.25 miles away from the likely source of the contamination and they’re recommending if you live within a mile to get your well tested. My community well is about 2 miles from the likely source. This diary started as a comment to Night Owls.