Filters Cannot Correct all Flaws

Abstract

A severe concern of contamination from 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 (AFB). In 1993 Fairchild AFB 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, Fairchild AFB 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 Fairchild AFB'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 an area deemed ‘West Plains’ in Spokane County, Washington, 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 leads of WA environmental agencies, primary source reports, peer reviewed articles, and media articles. Current results show possibilities lying with historical usage of AFFF from historical events of the area and a local landfill that was used for all wastes, including hazardous waste.