Navy Looks for PFAS Near Chesapeake Beach

 The Bay Net, Navy Tests Private Wells Near Naval Research Laboratory — Chesapeake Bay Detachment

The Navy has conducted testing of private drinking water wells within a sampling area near Naval Research Laboratory — Chesapeake Bay Detachment for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
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In the areas near the Chesapeake Bay Detachment, the concern over PFAS comes from the use of firefighting foam over the years. PFAS have been found in the groundwater at NRL — Chesapeake Bay Detachment and in nearby drinking wells in the direction of groundwater flow. The Navy has created guidelines for testing and responding to levels of PFAS.

In this most recent round of testing, the Navy sampled 52 wells and found one well above DoD PFAS interim action levels for private drinking water wells. If levels are found to be above 70 parts per trillion (ppt), then the Navy will provide bottled water for drinking and cooking to property owners or tenants until a more enduring solution is implemented. No samples were above 70 ppt in this round of testing.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency developed a final draft of drinking water standards for certain PFAS in April 2024. The Navy will continue testing for PFAS in the area as needed.

The Naval Research Laboratory Restoration Advisory Board holds regular public meetings regarding PFAS and testing, including a recent open house in September. Interested persons can attend meetings or learn more here.

The  Naval Research Laboratory — Chesapeake Bay Detachment is a somewhat mysterious land based naval station in Calvert County, on the Bay a bit south of Chesapeake Beach. Among Bay fishermen it is called "The Radar Towers" because of a number of radar installations there visible from the water. 

Naval Research Laboratory - CBD

Naval Research Laboratory – Chesapeake Bay Detachment (NRL-CBD) is located approximately 40 miles southeast of Washington, D.C., in Calvert County, Maryland, south of the town of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. NRL-CBD occupies approximately 160 acres along the western shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay. The facility is bounded by the Chesapeake Bay to the east and residential housing areas to the north, south, and west. The facility is separated by Bayside Road (State Route 261) into an eastern and western portion.

NRL-CBD’s mission is to provide and maintain facilities for use by the research divisions of the Naval Research Laboratory, located in Washington, D.C., for the testing, development, and evaluation of radar, radio, optical, and fire control equipment, along with other research projects requiring a maritime environment or open skies, but with land-based support facilities.

The original acquisition of land for NRL-CBD took place in 1941, and construction progressed rapidly during World War II. Major expansion occurred in 1953 and 1954 with construction of a large laboratory building, shop facilities, and complete utility systems.

Apparently, one of the things researched there was means of fighting ship fires. PFAS was widely used in fire fighting foams, which may well explain how they ended up scattering it around the landscape.