PFAS Are in
West Plains Wells

Spokane County secures state funding to help filter out ‘forever chemicals’ in West Plains

Spokane County Commissioner Al French announced the county has secured $7.5 million in funding from Washington state to help filter out PFAs or ‘forever chemicals’ in the West Plains.  According…

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She Galvanized Her Community After a Company Contaminated It With ‘Forever Chemicals’

Laurene Allen of Merrimack, New Hampshire, dug into scientific research, organized neighbors and pressed officials to protect her community. She won a 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize for her tireless efforts.…

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Dr. Chad Pritchard’s Report on West Plains PFAS

A free public meeting This summary of a 2-year research grant from the WA Dept. of Ecology includes private well testing beyond the Fairchild and Airport zones, and surface water sampling of nearby lakes, streams, and the Spokane River. This popular EWU geology professor combines historical data on the complex underground aquifers with new findings…

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PFAS on Spokane's West Plains: Sources, Pathways, and Private Wells

This map highlights the sources, movement, and affected areas of PFAS contamination in Spokane's West Plains region. It focuses on how pollutants travel through paleochannels and aquifers, putting private wells and water systems at risk, particularly near Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport.

PFAS Levels in Fairchild Air Force Base Sampling Area

This map presents the results of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) testing in over 1,000 wells surrounding Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport, funded by a Washington State Department of Ecology grant. It maps PFAS contamination levels across the area to inform the public about potential groundwater concerns.

PFAS Levels in Spokane International Airport Sampling Area

This map summarizes PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) testing results from May and June 2024 in the area surrounding Spokane International Airport. It provides data on contamination levels in groundwater across various surveyed sections, supported by a Washington State Department of Ecology grant.

We Can Help

We are neighborhood volunteers addressing one of the nation’s worst PFAS pollution hotspots: the West Plains of Spokane, where highly toxic PFAS firefighting foams used at Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport have contaminated well water since the 1970’s. We are here to provide information to and about rural well owners, and to gain a voice in solutions. Join us!

West Plains citizens tell their stories