Soap Lake issues notice for PFAS level in city water well

SOAP LAKE – The City of Soap Lake has issued a public notice regarding a potential contaminant which slightly exceeds state health standards that has been detected in sample testing of a municipal water well.

The sample taken on Nov. 24 showed a level of 10.6 parts-per-trillion per liter of polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in Soap Lake’s Well No. 3. The amount is above Washington’s “state action level” of 10.0 parts-per-trillion per liter.

Nothing is required of residents at this time, the city said in a Dec. 23 announcement, but the state Department of Health recommends using an “alternative drinking water source” for persons who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or mixing infant formula with tap water. Home water treatment systems may also be considered. They should be certified to lower PFAS in potable water.

Officials noted that boiling water will not reduce PFAS levels and is not a treatment option. Individuals with specific health concerns may consult their healthcare provider.

City officials said they are working with the state health department to determine next steps in addressing the issue, and will provide quarterly updates to the public. Although Washington state has developed PFAS regulations, they are not yet federally regulated until new standards take effect in 2029.

PFAS include a large family of tasteless, odorless chemicals produced in various manufacturing process and consumer goods which have seeped into groundwater and are long-lasting in the environment. When ingested over time, they may increase to a level where adverse health effects could occur. Washington’s “state action levels” are public health goals for a lifetime of drinking water, but doesn’t mean exposure will necessarily result in health problems.

“When tap water exceeds a SAL, the DOH recommends that the water system take action to bring the level below the SALs for long-term drinking,” the city said in its public notice.