According to NAS Whiting Field, the Navy began sampling private wells around the base and its outlying fields in 2017 after a known potential release of PFAS-containing materials. Those standards do not apply to private wells. But the Department of War has issued a policy directing the military to address certain PFAS in private wells using new federal levels. The Navy is also seeking permission to sample wells within a designated area that have never been tested or that were last tested before 2025. Whiting Field says letters have already been sent to residents in the sampling area with more information and permission requests.