Fort Campbell water supply lawsuit claims ‘forever chemicals’ contaminated groundwater

FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – More than 50 military installations are alleged to have toxic levels of water contamination that cause a variety of illnesses, diseases and cancers. Now, Fort Campbell has been added to that list.

In November 2023, the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization, released information indicating that groundwater on the post is contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which could expose current and former service members to potentially dangerous toxins . A federal lawsuit alleges PFAS contamination in Fort Campbell’s groundwater was well above the EPA’s recommended limit.

What is PFAS?

According to Robert King, an attorney at King Law in New York, these “forever chemicals” are toxic to humans, animals and the environment. They have been linked to several dangerous health conditions, including cancer.

These chemicals are usually found in oil-resistant degreasers. They earned the name “forever chemicals” because of their persistent nature and slow breakdown over time, according to the study. US Environmental Protection Agency.

There is a wide range of diseases that PFAS exposure has been linked to, including several types of cancer, lymphoma, thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis. Specifically, King’s office focuses on people diagnosed with kidney, liver, prostate, thyroid, or testicular cancer, as well as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, thyroid disease, and ulcerative colitis.

Fort Campbell water contamination

In March 2024, investigations into potential water contamination at Fort Campbell began, sparking litigation in the area surrounding the post.

The Fort Campbell Water Quality Report is released annually, usually in late spring to early summer. The report includes information on drinking water safety and more. Links to the latest report and Stormwater Management Plan can be found on Fort Campbell website.

Concerns about contamination were confirmed on April 9 when the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection, Water Division, released a study suggesting contamination at the post. In the study, the highest levels of PFAS in the state came from Christian County, particularly in the southern portion where Fort Campbell is located.

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King believes the main cause of these “forever chemicals” in the station’s water is the military’s widespread use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), a fire-fighting agent that contains PFAS. According to King, AFFF has been used for decades on military installations. At Fort Campbell, the areas evaluated included the current Fire Training Area (FTA) building 7237, the former fire station, and fire station #3 building 7160.

King explained that degreasers used on heavy equipment such as military vehicles could also contribute to groundwater contamination because the agent used could be washed away when cleaning the equipment or by rainwater.

How much PFAS in water?

Fort Campbell’s drinking water is managed by a private company Jacobsoriginating from an underground water aquifer located on the post.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently recommends a maximum of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) when it comes to PFAS in the drinking water supply (and for PFOS and PFBS, which are specific types of PFAS). The EPA previously had a maximum recommendation of 70 ppt.

In August 2023, an Army drinking water sample at the post found PFOS levels of 33.7 ppt, significantly above the EPA recommendation of 4 ppt, according to the Army Environmental Command.

However, the environmental task force found in that report that there were groundwater locations in Fort Campbell with much higher levels of contamination:

• PFOS – 3,700 parts per trillion
• PFAS – 2,200 parts per trillion
• PFBS – 460 parts per trillion

Several other contaminants, including chloroform and bromodichloromethane, were also found in the groundwater, according to the lawsuit.

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More than 7,300 files per roll

According to King, there are currently 7,370 pending cases at 53 military installations. The lawsuits were consolidated in 2019 to US district court. Right now, King has six cases from Fort Campbell.

To file a lawsuit for water contamination, King advises people to talk to an attorney. Many lawsuits are evidence-based, and speaking with an attorney can help determine what evidence is needed, such as medical records, military orders, and expert testimony. King said if the case is settled, the payout amounts will vary and could be between $30,000 and $500,000.

Fort Campbell declined to comment for this article due to the ongoing litigation.

Online though, Fort Campbell Environmental Command Page has this statement: “The Army is committed to ensuring that quality drinking water is provided to its soldiers, family members and civilians. Proactive sampling is conducted by the Army on its drinking water systems, and coordination with other drinking water suppliers to facilities occurs to ensure that PFOS/PFOA remains below 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOS and PFOA (individually or combined).

“Although not an applicable regulatory standard, this is a concentration in drinking water that is not expected to cause adverse health effects if the water is consumed over a lifetime. … No exceedances of EPA lifetime health advisory levels have been reported.”

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