U.S. Navy and Michigan water systems uncover PFAS contamination

The U.S. Navy disclosed that fish from Swan Pond in Calverton, New York, contain elevated levels of PFAS, a class of “forever chemicals.” The agency did not inform the public for more than a year. At a virtual Restoration Advisory Board meeting, Navy officials outlined an interim groundwater treatment plan that will pump, foam‑separate, and filter contaminated water before discharge, with a deeper funnel‑and‑gate system to intercept the plume.

In Michigan, the Multi Lake Water and Sewer Authority and the Huron River Watershed Council reported that PFAS, specifically PFOA, were detected above state standards in wastewater influent, effluent, and monitoring wells, but none were found in residential drinking‑water wells. Officials emphasized that treatment processes do not currently remove PFAS and advised residents to test private wells and consider exposure‑reduction steps such as using stainless‑steel cookware and avoiding waterproof or non‑stick products.