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Welcome!
Welcome to Whidbey Island Water Systems Association, a resource for all who drink water on Whidbey Island! Our members are Municipal, Group A, and Group B water systems, private well owners, and the operators, engineers, and others who serve those water systems. Our quarterly member meeting are currently held via Zoom. The meeting invitation will be sent via our email list only. You must be a subscriber to the email list to receive the invitation email. Click here to subscribe! Continue reading Welcome!
2024 Water System Operator Workshop
Just 2 days to register for the American Water Works Association’s 2024 Water System Workshop. This in-person workshop will cover several topics related to water systems in NW Washington, specifically San Juan County and other small utilities. Speakers will discuss … Continue reading 2024 Water System Operator Workshop
Coupeville to study reuse of water
Coupeville will look at ways to reuse treated wastewater and reduce nutrients in the effluent. Coupeville to study reuse of water | Whidbey News-Times (whidbeynewstimes.com) The Town of Coupeville will soon begin to look at ways to reuse treated wastewater while continuing to identify solutions to reduce the amount of nutrients discharged into Puget Sound. According to Public Works Director Joe Grogan, water is the most important resource on Whidbey Island, and its availability is increasingly at risk due to climate change and a growing population. “Water will be more valuable to the entire community,” Grogan said. “Instead of discharging … Continue reading Coupeville to study reuse of water
EPA moves to make US polluters pay for cleanup of two forever chemicals
Superfund law requires industries responsible for PFOA and PFOS contamination in water or soil to pay for cleanup EPA moves to make US polluters pay for cleanup of two forever chemicals | US Environmental Protection Agency | The Guardian The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday designated two forever chemicals that have been used in cookware, carpets and firefighting foams as hazardous substances, an action intended to ensure quicker cleanup of the toxic compounds and require industries and others responsible for contamination to pay for their removal. Continue reading EPA moves to make US polluters pay for cleanup of two forever chemicals
PFAS Enforcement Discretion and Settlement Policy Under CERCLA
PFAS Enforcement Discretion and Settlement Policy Under CERCLA | US EPA Memorandum provides direction about how the EPA will exercise its enforcement discretion under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) in matters involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances … Continue reading PFAS Enforcement Discretion and Settlement Policy Under CERCLA
Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health
EPA action designates two widely used PFAS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, improving transparency and accountability to clean up PFAS contamination in communities Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health | … Continue reading Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health
You Can’t Get Fooled Again
EPA Sprints to Keep PFAS Rules Safe You Can’t Get Fooled Again – by John Lovie – Mostly Water (substack.com) Why the rush? In 2016, the EPA figured that it would have plenty of time during the Hilary Clinton administration to complete rulemaking work started during the Obama administration. It was not to be. One of the projects that languished for the next four years was the development of new rules for PFAS in drinking water and toxic cleanup. But it’s not enough just to complete the rules under the current administration. The Congressional Review Act allows an incoming congress to void … Continue reading You Can’t Get Fooled Again
California farming area placed on probation over declining groundwater and sinking land
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-04-16/california-tulare-lake-groundwater-probation SACRAMENTO — California water regulators took the unprecedented step of cracking down on one of the state’s major farming regions for failing to take steps to curb growers’ excessive pumping of groundwater, which has sent water levels into rapid decline and is causing the land to sink.The State Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously Tuesday to place the Tulare Lake basin on “probationary” status for failing to adopt sufficient measures to address chronic overpumping. Continue reading California farming area placed on probation over declining groundwater and sinking land
Whidbey’s Water Future In a Changing Climate
Whidbey’s Water Future In a Changing Climate – Whidbey Earth & Ocean Month (whidbeyearthday.org) DETAILS Date: April 23 Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Cost: Free Event Categories: Activities & Gatherings, Sip & Science, Water VENUE Cosmic Veggies 661 SE Fidalgo AveOak Harbor, WA 98277 United States + Google Map Phone (360) 246-4940 As seas rise and rainfall patterns change, will there be enough drinking water to support our current needs and accommodate future growth? Sea level rise projections are estimating around two feet of sea level rise by 2050, making a flood like that in December 2022 a regular occurrence, placing some of our shoreline … Continue reading Whidbey’s Water Future In a Changing Climate
Drought declared statewide
Drought Response – Washington State Department of Ecology Including Island County Statewide drought declared April 16, 2024, limited exceptions for Seattle, Everett and Tacoma metro areas. With winter’s snowstorms largely behind us, our state’s low snowpack and forecasts for a dry and warm spring and summer have spurred the Department of Ecology to declare a drought emergency for most of Washington. Ecology is making up to $4.5 million available in drought response grants to qualifying public entities to respond to impacts from the current drought conditions. Continue reading Drought declared statewide
Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series
Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series | US EPA Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series (epa.gov) – flyer April 30, 2024 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET Continue reading Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series