The U.S. Navy wants to test private drinking wells near the Connecticut submarine base in Groton for potentially dangerous industrial compounds called PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals."
The Navy says it wants to determine if PFAS made its way through groundwater into private wells at unsafe levels. Authorities say the most common Navy use of the chemicals has been in a firefighting foam.
The chemicals have been linked to various health risks, including developmental issues in children and decreased liver, thyroid and immune system function.
The Navy has scheduled a public meeting in Groton on September 17.
Meanwhile, a state task force is reviewing levels of the chemicals across Connecticut. An accident in June spilled thousands of gallons of water contaminated with PFAS into the river from a private hangar at Bradley International Airport.
