Washington's PFAS Problem: Grappling With Issues Of “Forever Chemicals” In Drinking Water

By Julian Gonzales, Environmental Studies ‘24

Firefighting foam containing PFAS being used in practice (Image credit: rawpixel).

In Washington State, “forever chemicals” have become a prevalent problem affecting communities and their health across the state. These “forever chemicals” are per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemical compounds, known as PFAS, that have been used extensively in various industrial and commercial products since the mid-twentieth century. Known for its water and oil resistant behavior, PFAS are also used by Washington State in fire fighting foams deployed on military bases. These chemicals are widely detected in the environment, and are now leaching into the wells and drinking water of many Washington residents and their families at harmful levels.

Cities and communities across the state impacted by PFAS all have one thing in common – they are all located near military facilities or airports. In recent years, affected regions have included communities near Spokane, Tacoma, and Yakima. Impacts in these areas can be traced back to heavy quantities of PFAS-containing fire fighting foams which then seep into water sources after their use. Many residents in these rural areas rely on private wells for drinking, eating, and cleaning, making PFAS contamination affect their everyday life.

Direct sources and areas of PFAS contamination are challenging to pinpoint and detect, in part because the compounds can travel far distances in the ground. In addition, PFAS foams have been used for decades and military bases and airports were required to use them as fire deterrents. A study published in 2015 found that PFAS exists in the blood of 97 percent of Americans. In 2022, the Washington State Legislature passed a law phasing out the use of PFAS in many consumer products by 2025 with the goal of reducing public health risks associated with the chemicals.

Today, more than 4,000 PFAS are manufactured into household and industrial products and come with a variety of issues. They do not break down easily in the natural environment and humans can be exposed to them through drinking water and dietary intake. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has attributed many negative health impacts to PFAS ingestion even in minuscule amounts, such as disruption of the immune system, hormone interference, increased risk of prostate, kidney and testicular cancers, high blood pressure in pregnant women, and reproductive system damage.

Efforts to provide individuals with healthy water and their wells free from the chemicals will not be easy or cheap, but initiatives for testing and installing filtration systems offer some hope. In Selah – where the Yakima Training Center is located – the Army is installing Point of Entry Treatment (POET) systems, which are whole-house, multi-stage filtration systems that work to filter and disinfect all water entering homes. In addition, further testing is planned for the coming years to map the spread of PFAS in the region. Also many military sites and airports previously using the fire fighting foams containing the chemicals are stopping their use and now thinking about the consequences that impact both human and environmental health.