Whidbey ‘serial volunteer’ wins stewardship award

An avid volunteer involved in countless projects around Puget Sound recently claimed the 2023 Jan Holmes award.

South Whidbey resident John Lovie is this year’s recipient of the annual award, which is named in memory of Jan Holmes, a marine scientist, educator and champion for stewardship of the marine environment who passed away in 2011.

The Island County Marine Resources Committee, Sound Water Stewards and Washington State University Extension presented Lovie with the award a few days ahead of Sound Waters University, which is when the winner of the award is usually announced.

Continue reading Whidbey ‘serial volunteer’ wins stewardship award

Sea-Tac’s legacy of PFAS chemicals: ‘foam showers,’ sick firefighters and contaminated water

SEATAC — In the 1980s, rookie firefighters at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport endured a hazing ritual known as the “foam shower.”

Recruits stood some 150 feet down the tarmac with 5-gallon buckets and were told to catch firefighting foam shot out of a crash-response truck’s water cannon.

They would wear the usual helmet and heat-resistant gear, but still ended up drenched as the bubbly white liquid rained down on them. Continue reading Sea-Tac’s legacy of PFAS chemicals: ‘foam showers,’ sick firefighters and contaminated water

Water on Whidbey February 2023

Welcome to the WIWSA February 2023 Newsletter!
Whidbey Island Water Systems Association sends a monthly newsletter to keep our community up to
speed with water news. We send this newsletter to our email list and post it on our website. We aim to
provide an easy place to find all the month’s news and upcoming events.
Please share this newsletter with your fellow water system board members, commissioners, operators,
members, friends, neighbors, and anyone who drinks water on Whidbey and beyond, and encourage
them to subscribe. Continue reading Water on Whidbey February 2023

‘I don’t want to live like this anymore’: East Selah families still fighting for access to clean water amid PFAS well contamination

EAST SELAH, Wash. — East Selah resident Brandi Hyatt has been unable to use the water in her home near the Yakima Training Center for a year due to high levels of a group of dangerous “forever chemicals” called PFAS, found in their wells.

Her family has been living off of bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth and washing hands and has been showering at the local YMCA, concerned about the toxic effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on human health.

“It’s stressful. It’s less than ideal,” Hyatt said. “I don’t want to live like this anymore.” Continue reading ‘I don’t want to live like this anymore’: East Selah families still fighting for access to clean water amid PFAS well contamination

Local and state officials hear from Selah residents affected by drinking water contamination

Selah residents affected by the groundwater contamination near the Yakima Training Center spent Thursday night speaking with local and state health and environmental officials about their concerns over the U.S. Army’s handling of cleanup efforts. Continue reading Local and state officials hear from Selah residents affected by drinking water contamination

DRAFT Guidance for Investigating and
Remediating PFAS Contamination in
Washington State

You’re invited to review and comment on our draft cleanup guidance for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination and cleanup.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are collectively known as PFAS. This group comprises thousands of unique synthetic organic chemicals that are extremely stable and persistent. Continue reading DRAFT Guidance for Investigating and
Remediating PFAS Contamination in
Washington State