Despite flushing, Airway Heights water still contaminated

The city of Airway Heights received the results of another round of testing for perfluoro chemicals in its water system on June 2. Four of the 20 samples that were tested were still above the Environmental Protection Agency’s 70 parts per trillion (ppt) advisory level — ranging between 85-141 ppt. The remaining 16 samples showed non-detect or levels below advisory levels.

One sample located in the industrial area tested at 1,245 ppt. That area was isolated, closed off and drained to remove contaminants. The area is still cut off from the rest of the system as of press time.

These results are a slight improvement from the previous round of testing, which had six of 17 samples test above the 70 ppt level for contamination. A combined 25 million gallons of water have been flushed from the system.

The Public Works Department continued to flush the distribution system as well as the industrial area over the weekend and collected samples on Monday June 5. The samples were sent to the Anatek Laboratory in Moscow, Idaho and results should be available during the week. The last two times staff sent samples for testing, they came back within two days.

Airway Heights and Fairchild Air Force Base will continue to provide bottled water at the distribution site on 17th Avenue behind Yoke’s Fresh Market. Citizens that are homebound can call the Airway Heights Fire Department (509) 244-3322 or the police department (509) 244-3707 and request a delivery.

The city continues to use its intertie with the city of Spokane. During the May 19 City Council meeting, Public Works Director Kevin Anderson informed council that a truck driver struck the electrical supply to the intertie and the telemetry antenna that enables staff to communicate with and control pumping. Staff pumped water from Park West well, which tested non-detect for perfluoro chemicals, until the antenna and electrical supply were up and running again. The power was restored to the devices on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s just one of those things, as far as I knew, it (the equipment) had never been hit,” Anderson said. “Then when we’re relying on it, it gets hit.”

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].