FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Officials from the Air Force Civil Engineer Center began conducting face-to-face notifications today to inform residents living near Fairchild AFB if their water wells were found to have Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentrations above the EPA lifetime Health Advisory (HA) levels based upon preliminary results of phase three water sampling conducted July 12-15.
Fifty residential wells were tested to the north and south of the base. Twenty-one wells to the north were found to have PFOS/PFOA concentrations above the EPA lifetime HA levels, while all southern-tested wells were non-detect for PFOS/PFOA. Affected residents are given the option to immediately begin receiving bottled drinking water from the Air Force until a long-term solution is implemented to provide them with clean drinking water.
In addition, nineteen wells were found to have PFOS/PFOA concentrations below the EPA HA levels. With owners’ permission, AFCEC will continue monitoring those wells to ensure the PFOS/PFOA levels remain below the HA. If at any time subsequent sampling indicates detections above the HA, these residents are also given the opportunity to receive bottled water. Ten wells did not have any detectable PFOS/PFOA.
“We will continue our goal to follow through with our neighbors to provide the information they rightfully deserve,” said Col. Ryan Samuelson, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. “We remain committed to working together with our community partners and Air Force Civil Engineer Center to provide a community-wide solution.”
Residents were initially notified of the potential for PFOS/PFOA contamination and the Air Force’s request to sample their water wells earlier this month after on-base testing near the northern fence line revealed three of nine base wells had concentrations above the EPA lifetime HA levels.
PFOS/PFOA are classified by the EPA as unregulated “emerging contaminants” and are present in common household items and heat and fire resistant products. The EPA issued updated PFOS/PFOA lifetime HA levels in May of 2016.
The Air Force looks to the EPA for standards and guidance on environmental issues, and will continue to take proactive steps to protect communities from negative impacts of mission areas.
Information about the Air Force’s environmental stewardship programs and PFOS/PFOA contaminant testing can be found on Fairchild’s website at www.fairchild.af.mil.
For additional questions and information, contact the Fairchild AFB Public Affairs office at 247-5705 or email 92arw.pa@us.af.mil.