Spokane Airport knew about PFAS in drinking water since 2017 — told nobody for years

They Found Poison in the Water in 2017. They Didn't Tell Anyone.

Spokane International Airport detected PFAS — toxic "forever chemicals" — in the groundwater in 2017. They didn't tell the Washington Department of Ecology. They didn't tell the Spokane Regional Health District. They didn't tell the people drinking the water. A community member discovered the contamination through a public records request years later.

PFAS: Forever Chemicals

PFAS are called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment. They accumulate in your body. They're linked to cancer, immune system damage, reproductive problems, and developmental issues in children. When they're in your groundwater, they're in your drinking water.

The Timeline

2017: Airport tests detect PFAS in groundwater. 2017-2025: Nothing. No disclosure. No notification. No remediation. 2026: A resident files a public records request and discovers the contamination data. Washington State orders emergency bottled water for affected residents.

Who Was Drinking It?

For at least eight years, residents near the airport were potentially consuming PFAS-contaminated water. They didn't know. The entity responsible for the contamination knew and chose silence. Every glass of water, every meal cooked with tap water, every bath — potentially contaminated with forever chemicals.

The FOIA Discovery

The contamination wasn't revealed by a watchdog, a journalist, or a regulator. It was discovered by a regular citizen who filed a Freedom of Information request. The system designed to protect public health failed. A resident with a laptop succeeded.