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Resident and advisory board member warns of high PFAS near Fairchild, urges filtration funding
Summary
A restoration advisory board member reported PFAS testing showing localized peaks near the Fairchild outfall called 'No Name Ditch' and urged pursuit of filtration funding and monitoring to protect Medical Lake drinking wells.
Chad, a member of the Fairchild Restoration Advisory Board, told the council the group’s sampling found very high PFAS levels at a stormwater outfall called “No Name Ditch,” and that contaminated groundwater appears to be moving toward Medical Lake wells. "The drinking water standard for PFOS is 4 parts per trillion," he said, "Coming off of Fairchild ... there is 20,000 parts per trillion, and it's been running more or less freely since we've known about it since 2017."
Chad said the group has plotted hundreds of samples and sees a gradient from Four Lakes north toward Craig Road and into the Medical Lake well field. He urged the city to pursue federal and state funding for a filtration system and to continue sampling and public communication. Council members asked about mitigation options; Chad suggested adding or relocating a supply well to cleaner parts of the aquifer while pursuing longer-term treatment. "Probably over towards the Land Road well, which is clean," he said when discussing possible alternatives.
Why it matters: PFAS compounds (including PFOS) are persistent in groundwater and regulated at very low parts-per-trillion levels; City staff and county partners will need to coordinate with Ecology, the Air Force, and state grant programs to fund remediation or supply changes. The council did not take immediate regulatory action but heard the data and public comment and directed staff and interested citizens to continue sampling and coordination.
