Filters Cannot Correct all Flaws
Presentation Time: Mon, 04/29/2024 - 14:00
Keywords: AFFF; PFAS; Fairchild AFB; Water Contamination; Airway Heights
A severe concern of contamination due to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) surfaced in May of 2017. The local water sources of Airway Heights, Washington showed to have PFAS compounds that were uncommon. The state’s small city sits east of Fairchild Air Force Base (FAFB). In 1993 FAFB was put on the National Priorities List (NPL) for water contamination in conjunction with an underground leak of JP-4 fuel. Similarly to water testing twenty-four years prior, FAFB underwent well testing on base and off-base in the Spring of 2017. The goal of this project was to assess research data, primary sources, current clean-up plans and findings to contextualize if the claims that the water contamination was solely due to FAFB's firefighters' aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) finding its way into the potable water sources of Airway Heights, WA stands resolute today. Could it be possible that one or multiple sources of PFAS compounds are to bear some responsibility? Areas of interest were wildland fires, landfills and historical locations of aircraft crashes within the boundaries of the West Plains, and the possibility that pesticides utilized on local farmlands could have contained hazardous PFAS compounds. Methods used to compile empirical data were first-hand conversations with subject matter experts (SME) and department heads of WA environmental agencies, primary source reports, peer reviewed articles, and news articles. Current results show possibilities lying with historical usage of AFFF from historical events of the area and a local landfill that was solely used for hazardous waste.
