PASCO, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Ecology is taking action to remove and safely dispose of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), a known health hazard.
Battalion Chief Mike Maier of the Pasco Fire Department explained the significance of being the first fire department in the state to participate in the Aqueous film-forming foam collection & disposal program.
“We’ve done everything we can to not contaminate groundwater in the city of Pasco. And we should not have any more AFFF in the city moving forward,” Maier said.
AFFF, used for decades to extinguish liquid fuel fires, contains PFAS, a group of chemicals linked to cancer and other health issues. The Department of Ecology’s program aims to eliminate a significant source of PFAS pollution in the state of Washington.
“Small amounts can contaminate large volumes of ground and drinking water. And this program will help eliminate a large source of potential PFAS pollution here in Washington state,” Sean Smith, Washington State Department of Ecology Product Replacement Coordinator, said.
The Pasco Fire Department is the first to join the program across the state, disposing of over 140 gallons of AFFF. Maier emphasized the importance of the initiative.
“It’s important because we want to make sure that we’re protecting the environment. Right? Our citizens entrust us with their money and entrust us with doing the right things. And we want to make sure that we respect that. And we’re doing the right things when people are watching, when they’re not,” Maier said.
In 2018, Washington passed the ‘Toxics in Firefighting Law,’ which restricts the sale and use of AFFF. Since 2020, it cannot be sold in Washington. Smith has been instrumental in developing the disposal program since 2019.
“And just this last September we announced this program. And we’ve been signing up fire departments across the state,” Smith said. “So far, we have 90 that have decided to participate in. They’ve identified roughly 40,000 gallons of foam they’d like to dispose of.”
The foam will be sent to Utah for incineration. The Pasco Fire Department now uses F-3 foam, which does not contain PFAS.
Smith expressed his excitement about the program’s impact.
“So by properly disposing it, we’re better protecting the ground and drinking water here in the Tri-Cities,” Smith said.
The City of Pasco reports no PFAS found in its drinking water over the past two years. Other fire departments are encouraged to join the program.
