Is there PFAS in Patuxent Naval Air Station (navfac-wash) water?
No PFAS were detected in any of the 26 samples EPA's program collected.
Patuxent Naval Air Station (navfac-wash) is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Patuxent River, Maryland, serving about 22,000 people. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 26 times across 13 sampling points between Mar 2025 and Sep 2025.
Every PFAS detected
None of the 29 PFAS were found at or above EPA's minimum reporting levels (2 to 20 ppt depending on the compound).
Not detected: PFHxA, 6:2 FTS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, PFUnA, 4:2 FTS, 8:2 FTS, PFMPA, PFHpS, NMeFOSAA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, PFDA, PFHpA, PFTA, NFDHA, PFOA, PFNA, PFPeA, PFEESA, PFPeS, PFDoA, PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS, PFMBA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 19.7 ppb, detected in 6 of 26 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
No PFAS action is needed on these results. If your water tastes or smells of chlorine, a whole-house city water filter is the usual fix.
Other systems in Maryland
- Mgm National Harbor 1 PFAS detected
- Freedom District 2 PFAS detected
- City of Bowie none detected
- City of Aberdeen above an EPA limit
- Broad Creek none detected
- Easton Utilities none detected
All 83 tested systems in Maryland
ZIP codes served
20670
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Patuxent Naval Air Station (navfac-wash) water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID MD0180022. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/maryland/patuxent-naval-air-station-navfac-wash/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID MD0180022). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.