SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Communities in the Spokane River watershed will receive a $595,000 to fund a local project addressing toxics and other contaminants through a new grant.
The Spokane River Toxics Reduction Grant Program is a part of a larger, multi-partner effort to reduce toxins and protect the health of the river, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
The Spokane River watershed is not only the home to lots of aquatic species, but it is also a part of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer that people rely on for drinking water. However, many parts of the river do not meet state requirements for cleanliness due to the presence of toxic chemicals known as PFAS…