

Water on Whidbey — January 2025 Newsletter
Happy New Year! This month’s newsletter has the latest association news and information from our partners. Continue reading Water on Whidbey — January 2025 Newsletter

Researchers find huge buried reservoir atop Oregon’s Cascade Range
A massive aquifer is stored just beneath volcanic rocks at the crest of the central Oregon Cascades – possibly the largest aquifer of its kind in the U.S., according to researchers at the University of Oregon. The discovery could have … Continue reading Researchers find huge buried reservoir atop Oregon’s Cascade Range

America’s next water crisis? A lack of experienced workers
link By KENDRA PIERRE-LOUIS, Bloomberg (Printed Seattle Times Jan 15, 2025) Shannan Walton was at a conference in Utah for water workers — the often-invisible employees who ensure Americans have clean tap water and working sewer systems — when she … Continue reading America’s next water crisis? A lack of experienced workers

Changes proposed in water system management
The change would clarify when a satellite management agency is needed to ensure safe drinking water. As reported in the Saturday, January 4, 2025 edition of the South Whidbey Record, the current issues with limited and costly SMA coverage affecting … Continue reading Changes proposed in water system management

Water on Whidbey — December 2024 Newsletter
This month’s newsletter has the latest association news and information from our partners. Happy Holidays! Continue reading Water on Whidbey — December 2024 Newsletter

December 2024—Q4 Annual Member’s Meeting
The annual meeting held at 5 pm on December 12, 2024 included re-election of Board President Randi Perry and Treasurer Brenda Bosman along with approval of the 2025 association budget and a recommendation to include one in-person member meeting in … Continue reading December 2024—Q4 Annual Member’s Meeting

Ecology releases four-year statewide funding strategy for PFAS
PFAS Statewide Funding Strategy: Four-Year Plan for Prevention, Reduction, and Mitigation in Washington State The legislature asked Dept of Ecology, in consultation with Dept of Health, to develop a funding strategy. The current state budget forecast shows a shortfall, so this big budget need arrives in a belt-tightening moment. It doesn’t mean it won’t get funded. The legislature will need to hear from impacted communities about whether they support these strategies, what is most important to do first, and if you think they should do something else instead. Continue reading Ecology releases four-year statewide funding strategy for PFAS

Stone, meet water
This news update is part of a series on PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, “Forever Chemicals”) in drinking water. You can read all the previous posts here. Continue reading Stone, meet water

Water on Whidbey — November 2024
Download this month’s newsletter with the latest association news and information from our partners. Continue reading Water on Whidbey — November 2024
Finding your Civic Voice
A one-day class from Whidbey Environmental Action Network From now through December 2025, Island County is going through a comprehensive planning process that will shape the local code and policy for the next twenty years. We need your voice in the room — especially if public speaking doesn’t come naturally to you. We recognize that it is a cultivated skill and are offering community members an opportunity to build that skill at our first Finding Your Civic Voice Workshop. When: December 8 from 9 am to 4 pm (with a break for lunch) Where: Bayview Cash Store Front Room, Second … Continue reading Finding your Civic Voice

Island County Comprehensive Plan
Climate Resiliency Sub Element – call for comments Over the last two weeks, Island County Planning Department held a series on three Stakeholder Workshops to discuss the Climate Resiliency Sub Element for the Comprehensive Plan. Stakeholders from a variety of … Continue reading Island County Comprehensive Plan

A Gray Tsunami
This month, I found myself on a stakeholder panel for a series of three workshops on the Climate Resiliency Sub Element of the Comprehensive Plan, required by the State Department of Commerce as part of the county’s comprehensive plan update. The first workshop was on sea level rise. For a primer on the sea level rise issues our island is facing, you can read An Imperfect Storm. Continue reading A Gray Tsunami

Oct 2024 Group B Meetup
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Water Rate survey as well as those of you who attended the Meetup on October 16, 2024. About 20 members and guests discussed the results of the survey along with various topics such … Continue reading Oct 2024 Group B Meetup

A PFAS Sandwich
At the end of the last update, we were left with three open issues: the Military’s response to the EPA’s new National Drinking Water Standard for PFAS; lawsuits challenging that standard; and testing of private wells with non-military sources of PFAS contamination. The last few months have brought us positive developments on two of these, and negative on the other. I’ll slide the bad news in between two slices of good. Continue reading A PFAS Sandwich

Drinking Water: Seawater Intrusion Monitoring
The county issued a request to all water systems to check the Island County Hydrogeology Dashboard for your water system’s seawater intrusion risk. When a water system is connected to more than 2 homes and the well is in an … Continue reading Drinking Water: Seawater Intrusion Monitoring