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| Neglected industrial district stormwater run-off pond 70 feet from Evans Creek Photo, Bob Yoder / 2006 |
Forty percent of Redmond drinking water comes from five wells, the remainder from surface waters like the Tolt River. At a recent Council meeting, the Director of Public Works Aaron Bert, announced Wells 1 & 2 in Anderson Park were contaminated with a man-made chemical called PFAS, coined a "forever chemical." It doesn't break down and can compromise immunity, lead to cancer, affect pregnancy and other health problems if consumed over a long period of time.
Council hired Hazon consultant ($284,000) to plan a pre-design of filtering infrastructure for Wells 1 & 2. Bert says the estimated cost will be $25-$30 million with projected completion by 2029.
Bert's scientist stated in a February 3 year council meeting they know the source was "historic." but haven't identified the site. Extensive community research concludes the source is likely from fire foam used in 2013 to extinguish a massive debris fire in the neglected SE Redmond industrial district. Jon Spangler, the Redmond Natural Resource manager saw fire foam floating in nearby Evans Creek and 1900 dead fish. Fire Captain John Stockman remembers fire foam was used.
Some fire foams can be highly concentrated with toxic PFAS. Per "aquifer hydrology studies" the contaminated water probably reached Education Hill and North Redmond water supply by 2018, at the very least. My family ordered a "reverse osmosis" water filter from Amazon and are VERY happy with the clarity and smooth taste of the water; and knowing it's PFAS free!
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