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
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
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
A new issue of DOH’s ODW Now newsletter is available for September 2024 LINK Continue reading ODW Now — September 2024 Edition
The latest issue of DOH/ODW’s bimonthly newsletter is out with information on the Lead Service Line Inventory Submittal process, Drinking Water Week Winners and more. Check it out at DW Now. Continue reading DW Now — May 2024
In honor of Drinking Water Week. Thanks to Nikki Guillot of ODW. Continue reading ‘I Water That Way,’ new music video from the Splashstreet Boys
In May 2024, we began the adjudication process in Whatcom County Superior Court and notified all involved water users. In the months after the case begins, all water users will need to file a claim describing their water use, so the court can inventory all legal water rights in order. Nooksack – Washington State Department of Ecology Continue reading Nooksack – Washington State Department of Ecology
‘Not a finish line’: For water providers, new PFAS rule is first step | HeraldNet.com The EPA’s new rule only applies to water suppliers that serve 15 or more residents, known as “Group A” water systems. At least 1 million Washington residents have private wells or use smaller water suppliers, called “Group B” systems. The Safe Drinking Water Act doesn’t protect these wells, some of which are near Harrington Lagoon. Those wells also likely have PFAS contamination, Lovie said. “They’re not eligible for any of the loans or grants that Group A water systems can get to take care of … Continue reading ‘Not a finish line’: For water providers, new PFAS rule is first step
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
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
In an unprecedented deal, a private company purchased land in a tiny Arizona town – and sold its water rights to a suburb 200 miles away. Local residents fear the agreement has ‘opened Pandora’s box’ Continue reading ‘Water is more valuable than oil’: the corporation cashing in on America’s drought
Rate hike proposed for Cascadia Water customers | South Whidbey Record Cascadia Water notified customers that increased rates will reflect additional revenue of $1,788,793 “The majority of our water systems were installed around the ‘70s, so the aging infrastructure is needing to be replaced, which is a huge cost in today’s day and age,” Lehman said. “The base rate is a set rate, but the tiered rate structure helps to promote water conservation, which helps to sustain this precious natural resource.” Continue reading Rate hike proposed for Cascadia Water customers
State-mandated testing revealed a San Juan Island community was drinking toxic water. But who is responsible for paying for a new water source? The question is one public officials are grappling with as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are found in … Continue reading As WA tackles PFAS pollution, some worry about ‘piecemeal’ approach
Representatives of US water and waste systems told US lawmakers this week that hundreds of such operations across the nation could face unintended and overwhelming liabilities unless they are exempted from a proposal that would designate two types of per- … Continue reading Warnings of a “wave of lawsuits” as PFAS exemption debated
Even well-meaning officials often provide inadequate or misleading information, putting communities at higher risk. When the simple blue-and-white postcard arrived in January 2023, Sarah Ferris missed it. The mailer, sent by the city of Vancouver, Washington, told 270,000 municipal water users … Continue reading The dangers of PFAS