FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Over 50 military installations are alleged to have toxic levels of water contamination that cause a variety of illnesses, diseases and cancers. Now, Fort Campbell has been added to that list.

In November 2023, the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization, released information indicating that the groundwater on post is contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which could expose current and former servicemembers to potentially dangerous toxins. A lawsuit in federal court claims the PFAS contamination in Fort Campbell’s groundwater has registered well above the EPA-recommended limit.

What is PFAS?

According to Robert King, attorney with King Law in New York, these “forever chemicals” are toxic to humans, animals and the environment. They have been linked to several dangerous health conditions, including cancer.

Typically, these chemicals are found in oil-resistant degreasing products. They earned the name “forever chemicals” because of their persistent nature and slow breakdown over time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

There are a wide assortment of diseases that PFAS exposure has been linked to, including multiple types of cancers, lymphoma, thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis. Specifically, King’s office is focused on individuals diagnosed with cancer of the kidneys, liver, prostate, thyroid or testes, as well as non-Hodgkins lymphoma, thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis.

Fort Campbell water contamination

In March 2024, investigations began into potential water contamination at Fort Campbell, spurring litigation in the area surrounding the post.

The Fort Campbell Water Quality Report is released annually, typically late spring to early summer. The report includes information on drinking water safety and more. Links to the latest report and Stormwater Management Plan can be found on the Fort Campbell website.

Concerns about contamination were confirmed on April 9, when the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, Division of Water, released a study that suggested contamination on post. In the study, the highest PFAS levels in the state came from Christian County, specifically in the southern portion where Fort Campbell is located.

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King believes that the leading cause of these “forever chemicals” in the post’s water is the military’s widespread use of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF), a PFAS-containing fire suppressant. According to King, AFFF was used for decades on military installations. At Fort Campbell, among the areas assessed were the Current Fire Training Area (FTA) Building 7237, Former Fire Station, and Fire Station #3 Building 7160.

King explained that the degreasers used on heavy equipment like military vehicles could also contribute to the groundwater contamination, as the agent used could be washed off when cleaning the equipment or by rain water.

How much PFAS in water?

Fort Campbell’s drinking water is managed by the private firm Jacobs, sourced from a groundwater aquifer located on post.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently recommends a maximum of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) when it comes to PFAS in the drinking water supply (and for PFOS and PFBS, which are specific types of PFAS). The EPA previously had a recommendation of maximum 70 ppt.

In August 2023, an Army sampling of drinking water on post found PFOS levels of 33.7 ppt, significantly above the 4 ppt EPA recommendation, according to the Army Environmental Command.

However, the Environmental Working Group found in that report that there were Fort Campbell groundwater locations with much higher levels of contamination:

  • PFOS – 3,700 parts per trillion
  • PFAS – 2,200 parts per trillion
  • PFBS – 460 parts per trillion

Several other contaminants were also found in the groundwater, including chloroform and bromodichloromethane, according to the lawsuit.

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Over 7,300 pending cases

According to King, there are currently 7,370 cases pending across 53 military installations. The suits were consolidated in 2019 under U.S. District Court. At the moment, King has six cases out of Fort Campbell.

In order to file a water contamination lawsuit, King advises people to speak to an attorney. Many lawsuits are evidence-based, and speaking with an attorney can help determine what evidence is needed, such as medical records, military orders and expert testimony. King said if the case is settled, payout amounts will vary and may be between $30,000 and $500,000.

Fort Campbell has declined to comment for this article because of the pending litigation.

Online though, the Environmental Command Fort Campbell page has this statement: “The Army is committed to ensuring quality drinking water is provided to its soldiers, family members and civilians. Proactive sampling is performed by the Army on its drinking water systems and coordination with other purveyors of drinking water to installations occurs to ensure PFOS/PFOA remains below 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOS and PFOA (individually or combined).

“While not an enforceable regulatory standard, this represents a concentration in drinking water that is not expected to produce adverse health effects if the water is consumed over an entire lifetime. … There have been no reported exceedances of the EPA lifetime health advisory levels.”

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