CERCLA PFAS Enforcement Listening Sessions
Key takeaways:
EPA will focus enforcement efforts on federal facilities, including military bases, and manufacturers
EPA proposes exempting from CERCLA liability State, tribal, or municipal airports, and tribal or local fire departments, in exchange for full cooperation with investigations.
The first is good news for residents near Ault Field and OLF whose water has been contaminated by firefighting activities at these Navy facilities, and the second for others whose water may have been contaminated by non-military firefighting activities. Continue reading CERCLA PFAS Enforcement Listening Sessions
March 2023 Member Meeting Presentations
Presentation from the March 2023 Quarterly Member Meeting. Downloadable PDF files with links. Continue reading March 2023 Member Meeting Presentations
About that Toilet Paper
A new study published this week was showed that toilet paper is a major contributor to PFAS in wastewater.
Rural Washington State relies heavily on septic systems for sewage treatment and on ground water wells for drinking water. In voluntary testing of public water systems in Washington State, PFAS compounds have been detected in about 10% of them. Could PFAS from our toilet paper be showing up in our drinking water? Continue reading About that Toilet Paper
2023 EPA Proposal to Regulate PFAS in
Drinking Water
What did EPA announce?
On March 14, 2023, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule for
regulating six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Over the next year, the
proposed rule will undergo an extensive public review and comment process. The final regulation may
differ from the proposal.
EPA proposed maximum contamination levels (MCLs) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorooctane
sulfonate (PFOS) and four parts per trillion (ppt) perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Continue reading 2023 EPA Proposal to Regulate PFAS in
Drinking Water
Quarterly Member Meeting March 16, 2023 Agenda
Theme of this meeting: Climate Change and Water Systems:
December 2022 Flooding
Puget Sound Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment
Town of Coupeville Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment
Sea Water Intrusion in Island County
Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool
Emergency Management Community Response Team Training
Q&A Continue reading Quarterly Member Meeting March 16, 2023 Agenda
Member Meeting Minutes, January 5, 2023
Minutes of the special meeting. Continue reading Member Meeting Minutes, January 5, 2023
Town of Coupeville Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment
The Town of Coupeville has completed a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment, including the vulnerability of the water system. Continue reading Town of Coupeville Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment
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
Free Washington Drinking Water Workshops
The calendar offers multiple ways to find the training you’re looking for. In addition to a chronological list of trainings, the calendar and filters let you refine your search by day, week, month, year and event category. Continue reading Free Washington Drinking Water Workshops
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
“Forever Chemicals” in Groundwater
Presented to Evergreen Rural Water of Washington’s Annual Conference, Feb 15, 2023. Continue reading “Forever Chemicals” in Groundwater
FROM THE TAP ISLAND COUNTY 2023
Who you gonna call?
Our friends at Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water have made a flyer just for Island County! It has a wealth of information about Island County drinking water systems and contact information for all the people you need to know at County and State. Continue reading FROM THE TAP ISLAND COUNTY 2023
Updated WIWSA Brochure
We’ve updated our brochure for 2023. Download a copy below and share with your friends! Continue reading Updated WIWSA Brochure
WIWSA “Virtual Booth” at Sound Waters University 2023
Exhibitors & Sponsors – Sound Water Stewards of Island County, WA WIWSA once again sponsored Sound Waters University 2023 and is displaying a virtual booth. The booth contains our new brochure. Continue reading WIWSA “Virtual Booth” at Sound Waters University 2023