SPOKANE, WA -- West Plains residents who get their drinking water from private or shared wells are now able to sign up for free water testing to ensure their water is free of PFAs, also known as "forever chemicals."

The Environmental Protection Agency is funding the effort to test samples from nearly 300 wells in the northeast West Plains area.

The testing is part of a greater push to study groundwater quality in the West Plains after PFAs was found in wells in and around Fairchild Air Force Base in 2017.

PFAs chemicals are used in many everyday products, including dental floss, food packaging and firefighting foam. They tend to accumulate in the human body and have been linked to delayed development in children and various cancers.

EPA staff will collect and test water samples from homes and wells after securing permission forms from homeowners and residents.

If results are found to be higher than Washington's recommended safety levels, state and local agencies will work with residents to supply safe drinking water or point-of-use filtration systems.

People in the West Plains whose water comes from private and shared wells can apply for water testing through this online form: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/ef824b7204104669953a0641bcc269b4?portalUrl=https://geosecure.epa.gov/portal

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