The U.S. National Archives | Base: Luke Air Force Base | https://picryl.com/media/an-aerial-view-of-the-flight-line-and-hangars-at-luke-air-force-base-7a78f9 | No known copyright restrictions | https://catalog.archives.gov/
PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are not currently regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); however, the EPA has set a lifetime health advisory of 70 parts per trillion for PFOS and PFOA in drinking water. The chemicals can have been used in firefighting foams at military bases. The Air Force began using Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) containing PFOA and PFOS in the 1970s to extinguish petroleum fires.
Luke Air Force Base began testing for PFAS in 2017, finding elevated levels of PFOA and PFOS in on-base samples of groundwater and surface water. This led to the expanded testing of all private wells within 1 mile of the base, where additional contaminants were found.
As a result, residents and businesses east of the Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona are eligible for bottled water deliveries. Delivery services began on February 23, 2021 and will continue until a filtration system is installed at the base.