— from Paul Kamin, EWUA —
USA TODAY has posted online a number of extensive articles on Groundwater overpumping. The reports look at specific situation in California, in the Midwest, and across the globe. They are interesting reading. (www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/groundwater)
Declining water levels in groundwater aquifers are a hidden, but serious problem. Existing, but antiquated, “water rights laws” are simply inadequate to address the overpumping of our water resources in many areas of the US and around the globe.
The USA TODAY articles do not break new ground, but they do help shine a light on a growing problem that is likely to have major impacts to economies, food supplies, rural lifestyles, migration patterns, and the environment. Locally, significant areas in Skagit and Kittitas County have moratoriums on new well drilling because groundwater levels have been declining.
San Juan County is certainly not immune to the threat of groundwater over pumping. Locally, wells go dry every summer. HOWEVER, aquifers in San Juan County are more dynamic than those represented in these articles. Our islands’ aquifers are much smaller, and water levels vary on a seasonal basis.
Eastsound Water, in cooperation with the County and Department of Ecology has 2 dozen electronic “data loggers” in wells throughout the Eastsound Aquifer. Water system staff have been monitoring water levels in our aquifer for more than 20 years. We are NOT overtaxing the local aquifer and we will continue to monitor water levels in a way that will insure that our withdrawals do not exceed what is sustainable.
In Eastsound, our withdrawal from our groundwater reserves is replenished on an annual basis via our winter rainfall. The Eastsound Water Board is committed to a sustainable community water supply and water system.
QUESTIONS: Contact Paul Kamin General Manager (pkamin@rockisland.com)
The possibility of a declining water resource in the Eastsound aquifer, particularly as the community continues to grow, suggests that a longer term plan would be prudent to assure an adequacy of supply for that vital resource.
In years past there have been discussions, meetings, conversations, and draft ideas about several plans to develop additional sources of water for the community. The possibility of a second Purdue Lake, or piping water from Cascade Lake suggest that solutions are available.
Given the complexity of such discussions and projects, I suggest that EWUA, San Juan County, and the State DOH dust-off those prior studies for
a review and update leading to a Plan B.