BREAKING! US air force base leaks toxic chemicals into sewer system

An air base in the US state of Colorado says it has accidentally released 150,000 gallons of toxic contaminated water into the sewer system of the nearby city of Colorado Springs.

Peterson Air Force base said the water comprised perfluorinated compounds or PFCs, a component of firefighting foam.

It didn’t say how high the amounts of compounds were.

A spokesman said the drinking water supply of the city didn’t change but was released into a creek.

The air force said the tainted water was discharged from a storage tank sometime before week. The cause of the escapes and the threats to local communities had been inquired.

A wastewater treatment plant which was yet not set up to remove PFCs was passed through by the tainted water, so when it was released into Fountain Creek they were still in the water, spokesman Steve Berry said.

PFCs have already been linked to kidney, prostate and testicular cancer, together with other sicknesses.
Peterson base is also being investigated as the likely source of PFC contamination seen in well water in two other communities that are nearby.