Ducey asks federal agency to address water issues near Arizona bases

PHOENIX – Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has called on the U.S. Department of Defense to take quick action in addressing groundwater contamination near Arizona’s military bases.

Ducey sent a letter earlier this week requesting the DOD to identify and treat contaminated water in Arizona surrounding four military bases and to prevent additional chemical exposure from other facilities.

The four installations with known impacts to groundwater include Luke Air Force Base, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Morris Air National Guard Base and the former Williams Air Force Base.

Each location is surrounded by businesses and residential communities where thousands of Arizonans live, work and rely on clean groundwater for drinking.

Luke Air Force Base in February announced high levels of toxic chemicals were discovered in wells near the base and urged residents to pick up bottled water from a distribution site.

The contamination is caused by per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.”

Once released into the environment, the chemicals build up in blood and organs and don’t break down.

The chemicals are believed to be caused by a firefighting foam used to put out jet fuel fires. Although the foam is no longer used, the chemicals have soaked into the ground which continues to impact groundwater today.

“Ensuring that all Arizonans have the cleanest possible drinking water from public water systems today and for our future is critical for our health and well-being and a top priority of our state,” Ducey said in the letter.

Roughly 4,000 Valley Utilities Water Company customers are estimated to have been impacted by the contamination in the service area near Luke Air Force Base in Glendale.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has identified another ten public water systems serving groundwater to 45,000 people within a 4-mile radius of Luke Air Force Base that are at risk.

“In Arizona, every drop of groundwater is considered a potential drinking water source,” ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday.

Because of the limited amount of water in the desert, Cabrera believes it is crucial to have the contaminated water addressed as quickly as possible.

In Tucson, the city has had to shut off 18 wells impacted by the chemicals.

ADEQ with state dollars is currently investigating and designing an early response action north of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to protect Tucson Water’s central wellfield. That well serves as a primary drinking water source for Tucson.

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