Camas sends new notice of ‘forever chemicals’ in groundwater

On Sept. 1, the city of Camas notified its water system customers that one of the city’s drinking water wells — Well 13 — has again tested positive for harmful perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals” because of their persistence in the environment, and that the levels were again above the Washington State Board of Health’s State Action Level (SAL).

“All other active City water sources were tested and did not have any detections above the SAL,” the city stated in its notice.

The city had turned Well 13 off in January 2023, after tests showed levels of PFAS above the state action level, but reactivated the well June 1, after a May 13 test did not detect any of the “forever chemicals.”

City officials said in May that they would continue to “conduct multiple tests per month over the next quarter to determine if the (chemicals) return and to inform future planning.”

The City has continued monitoring Well 13 and sampling the water more frequently than required by the Department of Health, the city stated in its most recent notice, adding that “the levels of PFAS have varied over time with some results being over the SAL, and some results being under. After the most recent quarterly sample required by DOH, results from Well 13 exceeded the SAL of 15 (parts per trillion) for just one of the five PFAS regulated by the (state board of health.)”

“Sample results from the City’s remaining nine wells that supply water to customers have all registered below the SAL,” the city stated.

The city said this week that it is coordinating closely with the Department of Health “to determine next steps” and will continue testing drinking water sources for PFAS and all other required constituents per DOH.

The city added that “Well 13 will be evaluated for its continued operation based on PFAS monitoring results, water demands from customers, and analysis by city staff through the fall (and) winter months.”

“The City continues working with Clark County Public Health and other local water purveyors, such as the city of Vancouver and Clark Public Utilities, regarding PFAS and how we can all work together to inform residents and businesses within the broader community about the topic,” the city stated in its most recent notice to water customers, adding: “There is nothing the City could have done to prevent the current occurrence of PFAS in our drinking water; however, we want to prevent potential future impacts from occurring to the extent possible and are working with our local fire department and potential future business regarding the use of any potential PFAS containing products.”

To learn more about PFAS, visit doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/pfas