Airports are among the most significant point sources of PFAS contamination from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). Required for firefighting training and emergency response at commercial and general aviation airports, AFFF has been applied at airport sites for decades, creating extensive PFAS contamination in surrounding soil and groundwater.
Scope of Airport PFAS Contamination
Commercial airports with active fire departments have conducted repeated AFFF training exercises over the decades since AFFF adoption in the 1970s. Historic AFFF formulations contained high concentrations of PFOS and PFOA. Testing around major airports has found PFAS plumes extending miles from airport boundaries, impacting both public water supply wells and private wells in surrounding communities.
Affected Community Water Sources
Both municipal supply wells and private wells within and around airport PFAS plumes have been found with contamination. Some airports have entered into agreements to provide alternative water supplies or fund filtration systems for affected nearby residents. The scale of contamination at major airports often requires municipal-scale treatment rather than individual household solutions.
Household Filtration in Airport-Adjacent Areas
For private well owners and households on local water systems near airports, PFAS testing is the essential first step. Given the PFOS-and PFOA-dominated contamination profile typical of AFFF-affected sites, carbon block filters certified for PFOS and PFOA reduction or reverse osmosis systems provide appropriate protection. Households with wells showing contamination above MCLs should also pursue formal notification to relevant environmental agencies to ensure the contamination source is being addressed at the regulatory level.