(The Center Square) – Spokane County is considering a regional task force to find solutions for providing clean drinking water in the West Plains amid “forever chemical” contamination.
The West Plains first learned about the contamination of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” in 2017. PFAS are common in firefighting foams, which the local Air Force base, airport and others were required to train with for decades.
The “forever chemicals” are linked to several health risks, including fertility issues, liver and kidney disease, cancer, and more. Spokane has discussed potential clean-up efforts for a while, but now the Board of County Commissioners wants to bring more stakeholders into the fold.
“Every one of these people on this list has got their fingers on one aspect of this or another,” Commissioner Al French, who represents the West Plains, told his peers on Tuesday.
French said the list includes representatives from the Washington State Department of Ecology, Department of Health, Medical Lake and the Spokane Regional Health District, among others. The county also hopes to include the city of Spokane, Fairchild Air Force Base, the office of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and other stakeholders, including filtration companies.
The board expressed an interest in coordinating the effort with the Department of Ecology before convening for a more formal meeting. Commissioner Mary Kuney wants to limit those sessions to two commissioners so the group doesn’t think they’re making decisions at that moment.
Commissioner Amber Waldref said county commissioners need to determine the scope of the task force, whether that be focusing on public health or long-term solutions for clean water. French has been pushing for well filtration systems but is also interested in pumping in a new source.
“As we prepare for next year’s legislative session, my top priority is getting clean water to all the property owners on the West Plains,” French wrote in a September press release. “Compiling a full list of private well owners with PFAS contamination, and those that are interested in receiving well filtration systems, is a starting point.”
Waldref said nailing down where the Board of County Commissioners wants to focus its efforts will allow it to identify funding sources from state and federal grants. French has handled much of the work related to PFAS so far, but Commissioner Chris Jordan wants the rest of his peers to get involved.
Last month, the Department of Ecology released a Site Assessment Report for PFAS at the Spokane International Airport. The findings included several locations at the airport and incidents that might have contaminated the West Plains water supply dating back to at least 1994.
French wants more representation from groups that can help the county deal with water rights so it can pump from a new source. Communities near Walla Walla have done this to a limited degree, mainly to protect fish habitats temporarily.
“The Walla Walla trust agreement is already in place, and it deals with water rights in Oregon that were brought into Washington,” French said. “I’ve got a property owner in Northern Idaho that’s willing to use his water rights to help us try and get something.”
