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Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are offering a second, final round of sampling after hearing from people in the eligible sampling area who did not get sampled. After reviewing the March sampling information, we expanded the area so it is now bounded by Thorpe Road, Interstate 90, and Highway 195 to the southeast.
ACT NOW: Requests will be filled until we receive 125 eligible requests or June 18, whichever comes first.
If you contacted Ecology to request sampling after the first round ended in March, or submitted a request at one of the West Plains Water Coalition in-home meetings, and you live in the eligible sampling area, we have submitted a request for you. A sampling coordinator will be contacting you soon.
 How do I sign up?
Complete and submit the Sampling Request Form. The form asks a few simple questions that will allow us to contact you and schedule the no-cost sampling.
If you need help with completing the form, please contact Erika Beresovoy at 509-385-2290 or WestPlainsPFAS@ecy.wa.gov.
What is the process?
The EPA will be scheduling appointments and collecting samples.
After you complete and submit the Sampling Request Form, our sampling coordinator will contact you by phone and/or email to discuss the process:
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Determining where to collect the drinking water. Our sampling team will take a sample from a drinking water source in the home, such as a kitchen faucet. If you have a treatment system, we will collect a sample of untreated water.
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Signing a form allowing us to take a sample. The primary resident living at the home will need to sign an access form when our sampling team arrives to collect your drinking water sample.
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Collecting the drinking water sample. Our sampling team will collect a sample at an agreed-upon date and time. Sample collection should take less than an hour.
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Analyzing the drinking water sample. An accredited laboratory will analyze your drinking water sample for PFAS, using a strict quality control process to ensure accurate results. The current resident and homeowner will get the results by mail and email (if provided) as soon as possible, usually about one month after sampling.
What if my water has PFAS in it?
If PFAS in your water is higher than safe drinking water standards (we follow state and federal standards, whichever is lower), Ecology can provide a water dispenser and weekly water delivery to your home at no cost. Ecology is working with the Washington Department of Health to provide point-of-use filters at no cost, which would replace water delivery. You will receive instructions for requesting safe water when you receive your well sample results by mail and email (if provided).
These efforts can help until investigation and cleanup of PFAS sources provide more permanent solutions, such as whole-house treatment systems paid for by the parties responsible for contamination.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are manufactured chemicals that never disappear from the environment, which is why they are called “forever chemicals.” PFAS are water soluble and highly mobile. They are known to contaminate groundwater. They have been used in firefighting foam, furniture, carpet, clothing, electronics, and building insulation since the 1940s.
PFAS have been found in the blood of people and animals all over the world. Some studies on people exposed to PFAS over a long period of time indicate that exposure may have health effects.
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