Membership, President's Message
Sticky post

Welcome!

WIWSA

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!

Ecology, EPA, PFAS

Spokane airport (finally) hands its shoes to state regulators

John Lovie

https://tconnor.substack.com/p/fridays-postcard-and-the-spokane Finally…Eighty-three months have passed since PFAS “forever chemicals” were detected in groundwater at Spokane International Airport (SIA). On this timeline—against the backdrop of a years-long cover-up and the airport’s ‘get-off-my-lawn’ blame-shifting —today is significant. For the first time, SIA representatives are meeting with state Department of Ecology officials to begin implementing a cleanup plan for the notorious PFAS water pollution, a task that will likely extend well beyond the nine square miles encompassed by the airport’s boundaries. Continue reading Spokane airport (finally) hands its shoes to state regulators

Group B, Tips, Training

Cleaning & Disinfecting Water Storage Tanks

Mitch Allen

A popular topic at the March Group B Meetup was about cleaning and/or disinfecting non-pressurized water storage tanks. Specifically, how often should the tank be cleaned and what’s the recommended way to clean it? Time between cleaning varies based on water quality. It is reasonable that more frequent cleaning will be required when there is more manganese and iron in the water. As a general statement, a period of 2 to 5 years is a reasonable range for time between cleanings. The attached guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health describes a best practice method for cleaning and disinfecting a … Continue reading Cleaning & Disinfecting Water Storage Tanks

Drought, Ecology

Nooksack – Washington State Department of Ecology

John Lovie

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

News, PFAS

‘Not a finish line’: For water providers, new PFAS rule is first step

John Lovie

‘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

LA Times

Feds say he masterminded an epic California water heist. Some farmers say he’s their Robin Hood

John Lovie

Panoche official accused of epic California water heist – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) “They told me they were investigating my boss for water theft, and they wanted to know if I wanted to go to federal prison with him,” Zavala said in his testimony. Panoche official accused of epic California water heist – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) Continue reading Feds say he masterminded an epic California water heist. Some farmers say he’s their Robin Hood