PFAS contamination at Joint Base Lewis McChord and surrounding communities
Ecology monitors multiple cleanup sites at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). This page focuses on Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in the groundwater.
JBLM is in Pierce County, Washington, about nine miles south of Tacoma. Covering 90,283 acres, it has been a military site since 1917. The EPA added McChord Air Base to the National Priorities List (superfund) in 1984 and added Fort Lewis in 1989. In 2010, the two bases merged to form JBLM. Over time, military activities have led to multiple contaminated areas. The base is a known source of PFAS in local groundwater.
PFAS in drinking water
In 2018, the EPA and Ecology found out that drinking water at JBLM was contaminated with PFAS chemicals. This came to light after the Department of Defense required military bases to test areas where these chemicals had been used, stored, or disposed of.
Tests showed that PFAS had also spread to public water systems in nearby communities like DuPont, the Lakewood Water District, and Parkland Light and Water Company. Some water wells on the base had PFAS levels over 70 parts per trillion, with contamination reaching as deep as 500 feet underground. Public water systems have taken steps to keep drinking water safe, including installing filtration systems, shutting down contaminated wells, mixing clean and affected water to lower contamination levels, and testing water for PFAS monthly.
The Army completed its assessment of the contamination at JBLM in August 2020. They shared their findings with the EPA and Ecology in 2021. The Army had only planned to investigate on-base contamination, but the EPA and Ecology pushed for testing off-base as well. In 2022, EPA and Ecology requested an updated plan for involving the community in off-base testing. The Army revised and submitted the plan in October 2022 but has not yet provided a version that includes feedback from the EPA or Ecology.
Read more about how the Department of Defense plans to prioritize residential water sampling.
Current water quality reports
Download accessible map data. For security purposes, well locations on the map aren't exact.
If you are on a public water system in the JBLM area, you can find the most recent water quality report using this map. The reports include information about who to contact about your drinking water.
Not all water systems have posted PFAS results. If they have reported their PFAS testing results publicly, the report compares them to the State Action Levels. The Washington State Department of Health set these levels in 2021 and required public water systems to test for PFAS by 2024. The EPA set new federal levels for PFAS in April 2024. However, water systems have until 2027 to meet EPA’s reporting requirement. That is why you see state levels in the water quality reports. By April 2029, no public water system may have PFAS levels higher than the EPA's levels.
You can find additional testing information on the Department of Health’s PFAS in Drinking Water dashboard.
Cleanup roles at federal sites
Ecology is not in charge of cleanups at Department of Defense sites. The Department of Defense follows the federal cleanup process. Under Federal Facility Agreements, the Department of Defense is responsible for the cleanup, while the EPA and Washington State ensure the process follows the agreements.
The EPA has the final say on long-term cleanup plans, but if there’s an emergency, the Department of Defense can act immediately without needing approval from the EPA or the state.
Current PFAS use at federal facilities
While Washington State has restricted the sale, manufacture, and use of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) for fire training purposes, the Department of Defense has their own policy on phasing out AFFF. They stopped buying it in October 2023 and only use it for training or testing if they can fully contain and dispose of it. They're also working on a safer, PFAS-free alternative.
A law passed in 2020 required the military to stop using AFFF by October 1, 2024, unless they got a one-year extension. The Department of Defense received an extension in summer 2024. The new deadline for them to stop using AFFF is October 1, 2025.
What you can do to keep your family safe
Please visit the Department of Health's PFAS page to learn how you can reduce your PFAS exposure.
Contact information
John Fot
Site Manager
john.fot@ecy.wa.gov
564-233-5588