Two Military Bases, One Contamination Crisis
Warminster Township, a suburban community of about 34,000 people in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, sits between two former military installations that have left a lasting mark on its water supply. The Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster (NAWC Warminster) and the former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove (NAS JRB Willow Grove), located just to the north in Horsham Township, both used AFFF — aqueous film-forming foam — for decades of fire training and emergency response.
That foam contained PFOS and PFOA. And those chemicals migrated off-base and into the groundwater that feeds the community’s drinking water wells.
How the Military Contaminated Civilian Water
AFFF is extraordinarily effective at extinguishing fuel fires. Military bases used it extensively — during fire training exercises, equipment testing, and emergency responses at airfields. At both NAWC Warminster and NAS JRB Willow Grove, AFFF was used at burn pits, fire training areas, and aircraft hangars.
The PFAS in that foam didn’t stay on base. The chemicals soaked into the ground, entered the shallow aquifer, and migrated with groundwater flow toward nearby public water supply wells and private residential wells. By the time testing began in 2014, the contamination had been building for decades.
The Discovery
The PFAS problem in Warminster came to light in 2014 when the Department of Defense began testing water supplies near military installations that had used AFFF. The results were alarming:
- Warminster Municipal Authority wells tested positive for PFOS and PFOA at levels exceeding the EPA’s health advisory of 70 ppt (parts per trillion), which was the standard at the time
- Several public water supply wells had to be shut down because PFAS levels were too high
- Private wells in the area between the two bases also showed elevated PFAS
- The contamination affected not just Warminster but also neighboring Horsham and Warrington townships
The community realized it had been drinking PFAS-contaminated water for years — possibly decades — without knowing it.
The Response
The response involved multiple agencies and significant infrastructure investment:
- Warminster Municipal Authority installed granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment systems on its affected wells, bringing PFAS levels below health advisory limits
- The Navy provided funding for water treatment upgrades and conducted site investigations at both installations
- Affected wells that couldn’t be cost-effectively treated were taken offline, and the water system was reconfigured to rely on cleaner sources
- Private well users were offered bottled water and point-of-use treatment systems
- The EPA added both military installations to the Superfund National Priorities List (NAWC Warminster in 2019)
Pennsylvania also set its own PFAS standards — a maximum contaminant level of 14 ppt for PFOA and 18 ppt for PFOS — which are more protective than the previous EPA health advisory but less stringent than the 2024 federal MCLs of 4 ppt each.
The Health Toll
The Warminster-Horsham-Warrington area has become a focal point for PFAS health research:
- The ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) conducted an exposure assessment in the community
- Blood testing of residents showed elevated PFAS levels, with some individuals having concentrations well above national averages
- A multi-site PFAS health study is examining cancer rates, thyroid disease, and other health outcomes in affected communities
- Residents have reported elevated rates of kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and other conditions associated with PFAS exposure
- Several lawsuits have been filed by residents against the Department of Defense and PFAS manufacturers, seeking compensation for health impacts and property damage
The health dimension makes this more than an environmental issue — it’s a public health crisis that will take decades to fully understand.
Current Water Quality
Today, Warminster’s public water supply is treated and monitored for PFAS:
- GAC treatment systems are operational on wells that remain in service
- The water authority conducts regular PFAS testing and publishes results
- PFAS levels in treated water are below Pennsylvania’s MCLs
However, challenges remain:
- Treatment systems require ongoing investment. GAC media needs regular replacement, and the federal MCLs of 4 ppt are more stringent than Pennsylvania’s current standards, potentially requiring additional treatment upgrades
- Private well users may still be exposed if they haven’t installed treatment or connected to the public supply
- The contamination plume continues to migrate, and the full extent of groundwater impact is still being characterized
- Emerging PFAS compounds beyond PFOA and PFOS are being detected, and their health effects are less well understood
What Warminster Residents Should Do
- If you’re on municipal water, your supply is being treated for PFAS. Review the water authority’s annual water quality report for current test results.
- If you use a private well, get it tested for PFAS immediately if you haven’t already. Contact the Bucks County Health Department or the Pennsylvania DEP for guidance.
- Consider PFAS blood testing. If you’ve lived in the area for many years, especially before water treatment was installed, talk to your doctor about testing. PFAS blood tests can establish your exposure level.
- Stay informed about the Superfund cleanup progress. EPA and Navy public meetings provide updates on investigation and remediation.
- Document your health history. If you believe PFAS exposure has affected your health, maintaining records is important for both medical care and any potential legal claims.
If you’re concerned about your water quality in Warminster or Bucks County, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and advise on the right treatment solution for PFAS and other contaminants.
Sources: EPA Superfund program (NAWC Warminster, NAS JRB Willow Grove), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Warminster Municipal Authority, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Department of Defense PFAS Task Force