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Rural residents tell Spokane council PFAS contamination persists; ask for clearer city action
Summary
Multiple speakers in open forum described PFAS contamination of well water tied to historic firefighting foam use, urged stronger city coordination, better public information, and additional testing and funding for affected homeowners.
Several residents and community representatives used the council’s open forum to press for city leadership on PFAS contamination tied to historic firefighting foam use at the airport and other sites.
A representative of the West Plains Water Coalition said wells have been contaminated since the 1970s and that testing has already identified high PFAS levels in some locations, including a well at Riverside State Park. "We speak for hundreds of rural citizens with well water contaminated by firefighting foam since the 1970s," the speaker said, and requested five urgent actions including a transparent public information outlet, stronger health‑system engagement, and increased city participation in PFAS task forces.
Speakers also raised cost barriers for follow‑up testing and filter verification. Larry Andrews urged the city to help finance post‑installation testing for filters, noting current tests can cost $400–$500 and arguing that subsidized testing would build public confidence that filters are removing PFAS as intended.
Council members did not take immediate legislative action during open forum, but the testimony signals ongoing constituent pressure for city coordination with county and state resources on PFAS investigations and remediation.
