Washington
Airway Heights
PFAS detected in your water, but all levels are below 50% of federal limits.
- Population served
- 9.5K
- Systems tested
- 1
- Compounds detected
- 29
- Above federal limits
- 0
Source: EPA UCMR 5 · Samples collected 2023–2026
What was found in Airway Heights’s water
AIRWAY HEIGHTS CITY OF
Serves 9.5K people · GW
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
About PFAS contamination in Airway Heights
## Summary Airway Heights' municipal water system earned a B grade, indicating that detected PFAS levels are below federal limits but that contamination is present in the water supply. No compounds were found above their respective EPA maximum contaminant levels. The most notable regulated compound detected, PFHxS, came in at 3.2 parts per trillion — less than one-third of its federal limit of 10 parts per trillion. The contamination has been traced to Fairchild Air Force Base, where firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals was historically used.
## What the data shows Testing identified two compounds at measurable concentrations in Airway Heights' water system. PFHxS was detected at 3.2 parts per trillion, well below its 10 parts per trillion EPA limit. PFBA was detected at a notably higher concentration of 78.7 parts per trillion; however, the EPA has not established a federal limit for PFBA, so there is no regulatory threshold to compare it against. The remaining 13 compounds tested either returned no reportable concentration or were not detected at quantifiable levels.
## What residents should know Airway Heights has been receiving an alternate water supply since 2017 as part of Department of Defense remediation efforts tied to Fairchild Air Force Base, and no compounds currently exceed federal limits. Residents with specific concerns about PFBA — which has no federal limit but was detected at 78.7 parts per trillion — should contact the Airway Heights water utility directly for the most current testing results and any updates on remediation progress. The city's utility is the best source for information on ongoing monitoring.
About this summary: Narrative text on this page was drafted by an AI model (claude-sonnet-4-6) from EPA UCMR 5 data and reviewed before publication. The numeric data above is reported by water utilities directly to the EPA. If you spot an error, email data@checkyourwater.org.
What Airway Heights residents can do
PFAS were detected in Airway Heights's water but levels are well below federal limits. Steps to maintain awareness:
- Read your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — request a copy if you don't receive one.
- Sign up for water quality alerts from your utility.
- If you're on a private well, get it independently tested for PFAS.
- Reduce PFAS exposure from non-water sources: avoid non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and grease-resistant food packaging.
Primary contamination source: Fairchild Air Force Base (AFFF)
Settlement information: DoD remediation; alternate supply since 2017
How Airway Heights compares
Airway Heights is one of 1 community we track in Washington where PFAS levels exceed federal limits.
Where this data comes from
- Testing program: EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle (UCMR 5)
- Testing period: 2023–2026
- Federal limits: EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) finalized April 2024
- Methodology: Read how we calculate grades
- Raw EPA data: EPA UCMR Occurrence Data
This data reflects EPA testing. Your water utility may have more recent results — contact them directly for the most current information.