MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. — People living near Fairchild Air Force Base may need to wait until 2032 to get clean water as the military delays cleanup of contaminated groundwater in the area.

The extended timeline means residents who have been dealing with water contamination since 2017 could face a 15-year wait for a permanent solution to their water problems.

"There's not a cooperative, trusting relationship that's been built," said John Hancock, president of the West Plains Water Coalition and member of the restoration advisory board created by Fairchild. "Even since 2017, as long as this investigation has been taking place, there's a long way to go for us to work together towards a solution."

The potential delay comes as part of broader postponements by the Department of Defense in cleanin

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