AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – A new update from the The City of Airway Heights said it is reviewing a new federal report on potential human health risks associated with chemicals found in its drinking water last year.
The City is working alongside the Spokane Regional Health District and the Washington Department of Health to review the report.
City officials said the city’s water is provided by the City of Spokane, so residents are no longer using contaminated City of Airway Heights wells.
“We are reviewing the new report but feel confident the water supply to Airway Heights is safe because we have a new multi-year agreement with the City of Spokane to provide our community with domestic water,” mayor Kevin Richey said. “However, we are working every day to find more long-term solutions for water to the West Plains area and closely monitoring any news related to PFOS and PFOAs.”
Last year, the City of Airway Heights discovered its domestic water supply was impacted by chemicals known as PFOS and PFOA, ingredients found in fire extinguishing foam and other materials. The chemicals are believed to have seeped into groundwater from a fire training site on the eastern edge of Fairchild Airforce Base, officials said.
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Until the source of contamination is cleared, the City will continue to use water from the City of Spokane and other sources to ensure residents have clean water, officials said. The current Environmental Protection Agency health advisory for PFOS and PFOA is set at 70 parts per trillion in drinking water.
City of Airway Heights officials said the City is also working closely with Fairchild to complete installation of a temporary granular activated carbon filtration system for one of the city wells. The new system should be operational later this summer.
