VALDOSTA — When Debra Tann learned Moody Air Force Base had been washing dangerous chemicals down the drain for more than 40 years, she was understandably concerned.

The Lowndes County resident has lived less than two miles from the base for 24 years and wants to know if her water is safe.

In May 2018, Moody released a report stating the base’s water was deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency, but Tann wanted to know if residents living near the base shared the same diagnosis.

“I want residents near the base to be equally confident their water is not hazardous,” Tann said. “Residents need to know if their water is contaminated or not.”

Fears of water contamination, both inside and outside of Moody, began after the release of a study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2016.

The report states military bases across the country used compounds known as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) in fire extinguishing foam since the 1970s.

Kevin Chambers, communications director for the Environmental Protection Division, said these compounds are emerging contaminants, which are chemicals that pose a real or potential threat to human health but are not yet regulated.

In May 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a health advisory for 70 parts per trillion concentration of these compounds in drinking water.

He said the chemicals do not degrade under typical environmental conditions and are extremely persistent in the environment.

The chemicals, although dangerous, would need to be consumed on a regular basis for years at or above the health advisory limit to pose a major health risk, Chambers said.

According to the 2016 report, there were multiple spills of the compound during a period of time at about six different locations on the base.

“The analytical results for both surface water samples collected in Beatty Branch during the (inspection) indicate that the surface water in Beatty Creek contain PFAS compounds at concentrations exceeding the EPA (health advisory) screening values for drinking water sources,” the report states. 

The waters of Beatty Branch are not reportedly used for human consumption or recreational uses, but the waters flow into Cat Creek, which enters the Withlacoochee River, according to the report. 

Fishing, swimming and other recreational activities in these waterways could provide an exposure to people through skin contact, ingestion of water and ingestion of fish, the report states.

Despite this, Capt. Jessica Colby, Moody’s chief of public affairs, said no off-base water testing was conducted.

She said the data and site information failed to show a potential pathway to drinking water supplies on or off the base, and impacted areas on base are not located near base drinking water wells, the base boundary or off-base property. 

“The Air Force uses data and site information to map possible contaminant migration and potential pathways,” Colby said. “The Air Force evaluates site-specific factors to assess if there is a potential for contamination to reach drinking water supplies on or off-base.”

When concerns first came to light in 2016, the base phased out the use of PFAS compounds and completely eliminated the use by 2018, Colby said.

Moody recommends private well owners contact their county representatives for information on testing personal wells. 

Paige Dukes, Lowndes County clerk and public information officer, said this is an opportunity for county residents such as Tann to have their water tested. Not only for PFAS but for any other contaminants that might be there.

She said the bigger issue is water quality and water safety. 

There are businesses in the community that can perform a number of tests to see if a resident’s water is safe or not.

The tests, however, would have to be done on the resident’s dime and would not be paid for by the county.

“This is about empowering (people concerned about their water),” Dukes said. “Go ahead and do something about it. Have your water tested if you have concerns.”

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256