The U.S. Navy is testing private wells around Naval Air Station Jacksonville and certain other bases this month to make sure the water from them is safe to drink.
The Navy is looking for harmful levels of chemicals that are commonly found in foam used to put out aircraft fires.
Exposure to these chemicals has been known to cause a myriad of health problems including birth defects and cancer.
Navy officials say this is just a preliminary assessment and that Mayport and other Navy bases not currently on the list could be added as investigators find out more about where these chemicals have been stored, used and disposed-of.
A public open house is set for August 16 at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel at 610 Wells Road in Orange Park to answer questions about the testing.
U.S. environmental regulators as well representatives from JEA and the Florida Health Department will be on hand to talk about the water investigation.
Contact reporter Cyd Hoskinson at choskinson@wjct.org, 904-358-6351 and on Twitter @cydwjctnews.
Photo used under Creative Commons license.
