Chemical Contamination Found in Wells Near Delaware Air Force Base

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Businesses and residents near Dover Air Force Base in Delaware are being provided bottled water after chemical contaminants were found in private wells near the base at levels far exceeding federal health advisory levels.

State officials said in a news release Sunday that Air Force officials had notified them that four wells had perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, above the EPA advisory level of 70 parts per trillion.

Records obtained by The Associated Press show that the well at one local business had a PFOS level of 168,000 parts per trillion.

Members of Delaware’s congressional delegation issued a statement Monday expressing concern about the chemical contamination.

A base spokeswoman said the Air Force is moving aggressively to protect drinking water supplies affected by previous base activities.