U.S. Navy to address PFAS contamination in Whidbey water well

The U.S. Navy is initiating a time-critical removal action to connect a building in North Whidbey to the Oak Harbor municipal water system. This decision follows tests conducted in late 2025 and early 2026 that detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a private drinking water well.

Testing revealed PFAS concentrations between 5.80 and 6.26 parts per trillion, exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion. The contaminated well is located within the Area 6 Landfill drinking water sampling area, though the specific location remains undisclosed to protect the owner’s privacy.

The project, estimated to cost approximately $120,000, involves installing roughly 150 linear feet of distribution piping and water supply pumping improvements. The Navy expects the full implementation of this removal action to take about one year. This marks the second such time-critical action initiated by the Navy in North Whidbey since September 2025.