The City of Napavine has taken two wells offline after state-mandated tests showed both had higher than acceptable levels of PFAS, otherwise known as forever chemicals.
In an announcement to customers, the city — which owns and operates six wells, a 100,000-gallon water tower and a 350,000-gallon reservoir — said the remaining wells “are sufficient at this time to meet the water demand needs of its customers.”
In 2021, the Washington state Board of Health (SBOH) adopted rules that required the city to test for contaminants not yet regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and required residents to be notified if results exceeded the State Action Level (SAL).
PFAS are tasteless, colorless and odorless and do not occur naturally. The chemicals appear in products including stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, nonstick pans, fast food wrappers, grease-proof food containers, and waterproof clothing.
Initial results from a March 7 test showed that Well 3 has 15.6 parts per trillion (ppt) of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), above the SAL of 9 ppt. A second test was conducted on April 9, which confirmed the result. The city took the well out of service after it received the confirmation.
A test on June 5 showed that Well 2 had 48.5 parts per trillion (ppt) of PFNA and 28 parts per trillion (ppt) of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The SAL for PFOS is 15.
The well was taken offline following the initial results, and follow-up testing on June 28 confirmed the initial results.
According to a notice to customers, some who continuously drink water above the PFNA may experience cholesterol, immune, liver or reproductive problems, while children may experience lower birth weights and a higher risk of abnormal development.
According to the notice, the city is currently evaluating its options, which include treatment or finding a new water supply.
For more information, visit cityofnapavine.com/publicworks/page/pfas.
