Concerns elsewhere in Yakima County about drinking water containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) prompted the City of Yakima to have its water tested for the substances.

The City received test results last week and all samples came back with no detection of PFAS in the City of Yakima drinking water supply.

The City conducted similar tests in September 2023 which also found no PFAS in the water supply.

“We tested all of our sources; four wells and our surface water (Naches River),” said Water/Irrigation Manager Mike Shane. “Like last September, results showing PFAS not detected is great news, especially given the health and environmental concerns associated with these substances.”

Drinking water testing was conducted by Anatek Labs. “We asked the lab to test the water samples according to the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5) requirements recently established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),” Shane said.

Tests conducted in September were in anticipation of the new EPA requirements.

Information about the actions EPA is taking to address PFAS is available at https://www.epa.gov/pfas.

According to the EPA, PFAS are widely used, long lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals, the EPA notes.

The Washington State Department of Health offers PFAS information and related videos at https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/pfas

For more information about the recent testing, contact Water/Irrigation Manager Mike Shane at 509-576-6480.

Click https://www.yakimawa.gov/services/water-irrigation/ for more about the City’s drinking water and irrigation services.