NAPLES, Italy — Getting a house off base in the Naples area now will take even longer than usual.

Navy officials extended a moratorium on lease-signings pending water-testing for bacteria contamination in all homes — whether they are on city water or well water.

The commander of Naval Support Activity Naples said he was "pretty confident the city water around here is good," at a town hall meeting last month.

Nevertheless, houses on city water "in areas that have previously tested ‘clean’ will be tested for bacteria only" before any leases will be signed, according to a message posted late last week on the Navy’s official health assessment Web site. The testing takes three days once samples are drawn.

Landlords with homes on well water have to produce documents certifying their wells tested safe. Testing of well water is more extensive and can take up to three months, Navy officials said.

The added testing means extended stays in temporary lodging for new Navy arrivals. Individuals are normally given 60 to 90 days to move into a house once they arrive.

"So far, the average stay has been extended by about two weeks," said Aprile Cason, manager of the Navy Lodge on the support site in Gricignano.

The 120-room facility is almost full, according to Cason.

"For some it can feel like the walls are closing in, and it’s understandable. People want to get settled."

Almost one-third of off-base homes tested as part of the Navy’s public health assessment indicated excessive bacteria levels.

Navy officials launched the health assessment in February following concerns over the decades-long trash crisis in Naples resulting in illegal burning and dumping, and burying of toxic materials.

Some of the homes tested showed the presence of other substances, including volatile organic compounds, and at least one home had excessive levels of arsenic.

A final report on the testing of water, soil and soil gases on the 166 homes is due in November.

As a result of testing thus far, the Navy made arrangements for some families to move into base housing where they say the water is safe, and began handing out free bottled water to off-base households in September.

The health assessment Web site is: http://www.nsa.naples.navy.mil/risk/index.cfm