Jacksonville FL metro: water quality. Jacksonville's 1.6 million person metro relies primarily on the Floridan Aquifer for drinking water, managed by JEA…
Jacksonville's 1.6 million person metro relies primarily on the Floridan Aquifer for drinking water, managed by JEA (formerly Jacksonville Electric Authority). The city operates over 100 wells drawing from this deep limestone formation, making Jacksonville one of the largest groundwater-dependent cities in the country. Unlike South Florida's shallow Biscayne Aquifer, the Floridan Aquifer in northeast Florida sits deeper and is better protected from surface contamination – but not immune to it.
The metro's water story is defined by one installation: Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
NAS Jacksonville is one of the most extensively documented PFAS contamination sites in the southeastern United States. The Navy has confirmed AFFF-related PFAS in groundwater both on and off base. Monitoring wells near the base have recorded PFOS concentrations exceeding 10,000 ppt in some locations. The contamination plume extends into surrounding neighborhoods, and the Navy has been providing alternative water supplies to affected households.
Additionally, Naval Station Mayport, located at the mouth of the St. Johns River about 15 miles east, has its own documented PFAS contamination from AFFF use.
Florida relies on federal EPA standards for PFAS enforcement. The FDEP's statewide investigation has confirmed PFAS at multiple sites in Duval County, with NAS Jacksonville and NS Mayport as the primary point sources. According to Navy Environmental Assessment data published in 2024, remediation efforts at NAS Jacksonville have reduced off-base groundwater PFAS levels in some monitoring wells, but concentrations remain above federal MCLs in others.
JEA's deeper production wells have generally shown lower PFAS than the shallow monitoring wells near NAS Jacksonville, but the potential for downward migration over time is a concern hydrogeologists are tracking.
Among Florida metros, Jacksonville faces the highest concentrated PFAS risk due to the naval installations. Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Miami all have military-related contamination, but NAS Jacksonville's documented plume is among the most extensive in the state.
Nationally, Jacksonville's situation is comparable to other naval communities – Pensacola near NAS Pensacola, San Diego near multiple bases – where military AFFF use has created localized groundwater crises. The Floridan Aquifer provides some natural protection through depth and rock filtration, but karst features in northeast Florida create pathways that can short-circuit that protection.
See our Florida state page for statewide patterns.
Proximity to NAS Jacksonville or NS Mayport is the key variable. If you live within several miles of either base, monitoring your water data is a priority.
Check your water to see the latest testing results for your area. If PFAS shows up above the 4 ppt federal MCL for PFOA or PFOS, a reverse osmosis system provides the most thorough household protection. Our water filter guide reviews options tested against the high PFAS concentrations found near military sites. For a complete picture of how contamination has tracked in your area over time, pull a detailed report.