EL PASO COUNTY, CO – Peterson Air Force Base accidentally released about 150,000 gallons of water containing toxic chemicals into the sewer system of Colorado Springs, but the potential health hazards aren’t immediately known.
The water contained PFC compounds, which have been linked to cancer. The Air Force hasn’t said how high the levels were.
City officials say the chemicals didn’t get into the drinking water. The tainted water passed through a wastewater treatment plant, but the plant isn’t set up to remove PFC’s, so they were discharged into a creek.
PFC’s are a component of firefighting foam used at the base. The cause of the release is under investigation.
