Montgomery County tests wells for PFAS near former training site | The Locally Times
Health officials identified PFAS in Muddy Branch watershed streams linked to firefighting foam used through 2020.
Montgomery County health officials identified elevated levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in the Muddy Branch stream watershed. The contamination centers on a stream running along the south side of Great Seneca Highway and beneath Key West Avenue, adjacent to the former Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy. ## Contamination Source County records state the PFAS originated from firefighting foam used during training exercises at the academy between the 1970s and 2020. A multi-agency task force, including the Maryland Department of the Environment, the county departments of environmental protection and health and human services, WSSC Water, and Montgomery Parks, is conducting soil and groundwater sampling to determine the extent of the pollution. ## Public Health Guidance Signs posted in the area instruct residents to avoid contact with water in the identified stream and ponds. The county prohibits swimming, wading, fishing, and allowing children or pets to play in or drink from these waterways. WSSC Water reports that the public drinking water supply remains in compliance with federal standards because the system does not draw from the affected bodies of water. ## Private Well Testing The county is contacting owners of private wells within one mile of the highest contamination sites to offer free testing. The Maryland Department of the Environment recommends that all private well owners test their water annually for PFAS. ## Legal Context Montgomery County filed a lawsuit in 2023 against two dozen PFAS manufacturers. The litigation alleges these companies knew of the harmful nature of their products as early as 1980 but did not disclose this information to regulators. The Maryland Department of the Environment currently prohibits the use of the specific firefighting foam linked to the site. ## Key Questions **Is my tap water safe to drink?** WSSC Water confirmed that the public water supply is not drawn from the affected bodies of water and remains in compliance with federal drinking water standards. **What should I do if I have a private well nearby?** The county is contacting owners of private wells within one mile of the highest contamination sites to offer free testing, and the Maryland Department of the Environment recommends annual water quality testing for all well owners.