Water Quality Information
The City of Airway Heights wants to ensure the health and safety of its citizens.
There was a PFAS/PFOA contamination discovered in May 2017 that affected the City’s domestic water supply, the full impact of which is still being determined.
This contamination has since been resolved by the installation of a granular activated carbon (GAC) system at the City’s Well 9 location.
Your Drinking Water is Safe
The City is committed to providing residents, businesses, and other City water users with a safe, dependable supply of drinking water. The City currently has two sources of clean drinking water; in summer, from our Well 9 location, and in the majority of the time, from our interties with the City of Spokane. Both sources are monitored on a schedule determined by the Department of Health (DOH) and meet all federal and state requirements.
The City’s annual Water Quality Report summarizes data collected on drinking water during a calendar year. This includes water quality testing data from the City of Spokane. You can find the most recent report here.
Developing a Safe, Sustainable Solution
Airway Heights’ drinking water supply is safe, secure, and reliable, and the City is committed to making sure it stays that way.
During the winter months, Well 9 is not in operation and the City draws all of its water from the Spokane source. During summer months, Well 9 is activated and has a large enough flow rate to supply the city during normal demand, however during hours of peak demand, water is still drawn from the two interties with the City of Spokane as needed.
Well 9 has been the primary source of water for the City since its construction in 2013. After the PFAS/PFOA contamination event in 2017, arising from the use of firefighting foam at Fairchild Airforce base, the United States Airforce (USAF) installed 8 tanks containing a GAC filtration system which is utilized to clean the ground water for general use. This GAC filtration method removes PFAS and PFOA contaminates from the water, along with Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Pesticides, Herbicides, Radon and Hydrogen Sulfide.
The City will continue to monitor both water sources to maintain a high level of water quality for all its constituents. Our utmost priority is the health and safety of those who use our water and we will continue to do all that we can to ensure that the water you drink is held to the highest standard of safety possible.
PFOS and PFOA
PFAS are a category of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1940s. PFOS and PFOA are the most commonly studied types of PFAS. During production and use, PFAS can end up into the soil, water, and air. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.
Exposure Assessment
In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted an exposure assessment in Airway Heights and several other communities nationwide known to have PFAS in their drinking water. The exposure assessment report for Airway Heights, released in March 2022, found that levels of some PFAS in the blood of Airway Heights residents were up to fifty-six times higher than national levels.
Lead Service Line Inventory – Unknown Materials
As part of the City of Airway Heights’ Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) project, all known water service line materials have been reviewed and documented in accordance with Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.
The map below identifies parcels shown in yellow where the service line material is currently classified as unknown. This means that, based on available records and field data, the City could not confirm whether the material is lead, copper, galvanized steel, plastic, or another type.
The City is continuing to verify these locations through ongoing review and field inspections. Property owners may assist by providing documentation of visible service line materials where the water line enters the building.
If you have questions or would like to provide additional information about your property’s water service line, please contact City of Airway Heights Public Works at 509-953-5309 or email [email protected]
Here is a link to help understand the LSLI project
