In the Town of Chincoteague 

NASA initiated a groundwater testing program at the start of the investigation, and when PFAS 

were detected in the Town of Chincoteague’s (Town) drinking water wells, NASA immediately 

took action to protect public health. When the Town’s shallow wells closed in 2017, NASA 

began supplementing the Town’s water supply with water from Wallops’ drinking water system. 

NASA also began work on groundwater treatment options to allow the Town’s shallow production 

wells to reopen.

Today, a groundwater treatment system funded, designed, and installed by NASA is removing 

PFAS from wells that supply water to the Town of Chincoteague. With a permit from the 

Virginia Department of Health, the system has been fully operational since April 2021 and has 

successfully treated 96 million gallons of groundwater as of the end of June 2023. The system 

uses a proven technology for removing PFAS known as granular activated carbon (GAC). The 

Town’s wells and drinking water are sampled regularly, and results are shared with the Town and 

with federal and state health and environmental agencies.

Groundwater Treatment for the Town of Chincoteague Succeeds in Removing PFAS

and Is Already Meeting EPA Proposed National Drinking Water Standards

While federal and state agency guidance on PFAS evolves, NASA’s efforts to identify and 

address PFAS at Wallops continues. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

announced its PFAS Strategic Roadmap in October 2021. An important step was EPA’s proposal 

on March 14, 2023, to establish drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per 

trillion (ppt) each—a level that can be reliably measured in drinking water, and to regulate four 

others—PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and Gen X chemicals—as a mixture. The drinking water standard 

would require public water systems like the Town of Chincoteague to monitor for these 

contaminants, to notify the public if levels are exceeded, and to reduce levels below the legal 

standard. Stringent, regular testing of the treated groundwater shows PFAS are being 

removed successfully and continuously from the Town’s water to levels below EPA’s 

proposed national drinking water standards.

On the Wallops Main Base 

NASA installed a new drinking water well (Well #6) to supplement drinking water supply at the 

main base. The new well replaces Well #5, which was shut down in January 2019 after tests 

showed low concentrations of PFAS that were likely due to the old construction methods used. 

The new well went into operation in January 2023 and no PFAS have been detected.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY

NASA’S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS 

PFAS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

In 2016, NASA started investigating the historical use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at Wallops Flight Facility. That early 

assessment found known or suspected releases of PFAS to the environment related to emergency response and training activities. Aqueous film-forming 

foam known as AFFF, or “A-triple-F” contains PFAS and is most effective in extinguishing aircraft fires. AFFF was used at WFF in fire training operations 

and emergency responses beginning in the late 1970s and today, AFFF is used only for aircraft emergencies. Since 2016, NASA has been actively 

addressing the environmental effects from historical PFAS use as highlighted below.

NASA IS TAKING ACTION

Protecting the Area’s Water Supply

Four large tanks each 

contain 10,000 pounds of 

granular activated carbon 

(GAC).

As groundwater passes

through the tanks, GAC 

adsorbs the PFAS.

Over time, the GAC 

becomes saturated and 

needs to be replaced. The 

tanks are set up so when 

the GAC is being replaced, 

another tank takes the lead, 

and the other tanks provide 

backup. This layout ensures 

PFAS removal continues 

uninterrupted.

NASA’s ongoing testing of 

the treated water shows 

the system is effective in 

removing PFAS and meets 

EPA’s proposed drinking 

water standards.

HOW GROUNDWATER 

TREATMENT WORKS
Understanding PFAS in the Environment 

When NASA began its investigation in 2016, there were no state or federal requirements for addressing 

PFAS. NASA was proactive then and continues today to conduct sampling. NASA has a network of 

23 groundwater monitoring wells at and around the Wallops main base and has sampled these wells 

quarterly (except for four months in 2020 per COVID protocol). NASA uses this information to monitor for 

PFAS at the facility boundary and near the drinking water wells. Samples are evaluated using existing 

PFAS screening levels (see side bar), and NASA re-evaluates all data as new state and federal PFAS 

requirements are developed.

NASA’s additional sampling efforts have 

detected levels of some PFAS in surface 

water at the outfalls and tributaries of Little 

Mosquito Creek and Jenny’s Gut on the 

Wallops main base. 

NASA is now 

focused on 

understanding 

the interaction of 

groundwater and 

surface water 

to direct our 

next steps.

Runway 4-22 AFFF Response Area

Former Fire Training Area

Lear Jet Crash Site

TOC GAC Treatment System

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Aerial photograph from ESRI map service 08/13/2021

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Jenneys

Gut

Little Mosquito Creek

To Mainland To Wallops Island

To Town of

Chincoteague

TARGETED CLEANUP AND PILOT STUDIES

NASA is conducting studies to contain or remove possible PFAS source areas to 

ensure the protection of public health and the environment. These include:

n An area near the former fire 

training location and Outfall 3 

was identified where groundwater 

was discharging to surface water. 

NASA designed and installed a 

system that has been capturing 

the seep water and treating it to 

remove PFAS prior to it being 

discharged back into surface 

water. NASA has upgraded the 

system twice since it began 

operating in June 2022 – 

reducing a discharge.

n NASA is conducting studies to 

remove PFAS coming from the 

wastewater treatment plant that 

discharges to surface water at 

Outfall 1. PFAS adsorbents and 

pre-treatment technologies are 

being tested to determine how to 

design the most efficient effluent 

treatment system – removing a 

source.

n NASA traced a 

primary source of 

PFAS identified at the 

wastewater treatment 

plant to Wallops Island 

where groundwater enters 

the wastewater collection 

system. Two manholes 

in the area and the pipe 

connecting them were 

sealed in July 2023 – 

reducing this source.

n Outfalls 3 and 10 discharge to Little 

Mosquito Creek and Jenny’s Gut, 

respectively. PFAS-adsorbent matting 

was placed along the stream bed 

to remove PFAS from groundwater 

as it enters the steam. Additionally, 

filter bags and baskets containing 

adsorbent were placed in the stream 

flow to capture and remove PFAS 

from the surface water. Results are 

being used to design more permanent 

systems for the two streams and the 

Outfall 1 area – reducing a source 

and preventing discharge.

TRACKING NEW DEVELOPMENTS

NASA is implementing the investigation at Wallops using the latest scientific 

information and regulatory guidance available. EPA-approved analytical 

methods currently exist for 29 unique PFAS in drinking water and that number 

is likely to expand. NASA increases the number of PFAS included in our 

analysis as new EPA-approved methods and certified laboratories become 

available. All results are provided to the Virginia Department of Environmental 

Quality and the Virginia Department of Health, the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, and Agency of Toxics Substances and Disease Registry 

for their review and input on the next steps.

As of May 2023, 

EPA has a 

total of eight 

PFAS regional 

screening levels 

(RSLs) for 

drinking water 

and soil. RSLs help 

NASA determine if 

further investigation 

is needed or action 

is required to 

protect public 

health. There are 

no state screening 

levels for 

groundwater, soil, 

or surface water.

NASA remains committed to 

communicating about our ongoing 

efforts to address PFAS at and in 

the vicinity of Wallops. NASA hosts 

periodic information sessions for 

community members and employees 

at Wallops to come and ask questions 

and learn more about current 

activities. NASA regularly posts 

updates to its Website https://www.

nasa.gov/feature/background-latestinformation-on-pfas-at-nasa-wallops/.

Fact sheets will be published and 

we will continue to share information 

about the progress being made.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Jeremy Eggers

Wallops Office of Communications

757-824-2958 

Jeremy.l.eggers@nasa.gov

July 2023

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