U.S. Army and Yakima Training Center host informational event to update residents on PFAS

The U.S. Army and the Yakima Training Center hosted a public information event at the Selah Civic Center to update residents on efforts to address groundwater contamination caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

The event gave community members a chance to speak directly with Army officials and environmental experts about the investigation into PFAS contamination and the cleanup underway.

PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals found in firefighting foam previously used by the military. They have been linked to potential health risks, prompting widespread testing and remediation.

The Army began testing for PFAS in 2014 after learning that aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used in firefighting exercises could pose a public health risk.

Once it was determined that the foam contained PFAS, the Army launched an investigation and committed to community outreach and environmental cleanup.

“The Army’s committed. We’re out there doing it,” said Terry Gambrel, Garrison Commander of Yakima Training Center. “It’s not just a Yakima Training Center problem—I think it’s a global problem. The stuff is out there, and we’re doing our part to do the right thing by the public and take responsibility for our actions.”

Since 2021, the Army has conducted nine phases of water sampling and installed 50 point-of-entry treatment (POET) systems in local homes.

These systems filter PFAS and other contaminants from well water before it enters the household plumbing.

The Army maintains these systems at no cost to residents, saving homeowners what could amount to thousands of dollars.

“We’re waiting on 48 more rights-of-entry agreements from landowners,” said Paul Noel, public affairs officer for Yakima Training Center. “Until we get those agreements, we can’t move forward with installing or maintaining the systems.”

Resident Sherry Schnevly, whose private well tested positive for PFAS, attended the event to learn if there had been any updates regarding her home’s eligibility for treatment.

“Under the current administration, things have been kind of stalled financially,” Schnevly said. “I was curious about when that might change. It looks like for us—because our levels aren’t extremely high—it’ll probably happen around the spring of 2026. In the meantime, we buy our own bottled water.”

Noel explained that the installation of POET systems typically slows during the winter months due to the need for concrete work, which is not feasible in colder temperatures. However, installation is expected to ramp up this summer.

“Right now, we’re on schedule to begin installing the multi-connection systems this summer,” Noel said. “For single-home connections, we’re waiting on the continuation of funding so we can extend the contract. We expect that to happen within the next few weeks.”

Looking ahead to summer 2025, the Army plans to expand its efforts with the installation of Class B systems. These systems are capable of serving multiple residences from a single well.