Water Resources and Water Quality

Overview

According to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), surface water provides roughly 75% of the state's total water supply, with the remaining 25% coming from groundwater. However, groundwater accounts for over 60% of our drinking water. (The total water supply includes not only drinking water and municipal water utilities, but also irrigation and industrial uses.)

The majority of the state's surface water is provided by rainfall and snowmelt, while groundwater is contained within naturally occurring underground aquifers.

In the past, Washington has enjoyed an abundance of water, but water availability is no longer a state luxury due to rising temperatures and limited water in aquifers.

The state Department of Ecology works closely with Washington communities and residents to provide effective water management, and Ecology's water supply webpage includes information on water availability, river and streamflow restoration, water rights, wells, dams, and more.

Water Resource Planning

Water resource planning ranges from estimating future water demand to evaluating possible new sources of water, protecting water sources, and addressing expanding environmental regulations. A water resources plan should bring together a myriad of issues, interests, and stakeholders through a planning process that can result in a reason-based, cost-effective, and environmentally sound plan the public can support.

Below are samples of water resource planning from counties across the state:

• Chelan County Water Resources Management – Offers information regarding the county’s water quality and quantity (streamflow) monitoring studies and SEPA compliance documentation.
• King County Hydrologic Information Center –  Provides public access to rainfall, streamflow, and other hydrologic data collected by the county.
• San Juan County Water Resource Management – Includes Water Resource Management and Implementation Plans, budget studies, and water supply and groundwater reports.
• Skagit County Water Resources Management – Links to departments that oversee marine resources, lake management, water quality, salmon habitat monitoring, conservation, instream flow and groundwater, and the clean water program.
• Whatcom County Watershed Management Plan – Addresses water quantity, water quality, instream flow, and fish habitat challenges in the Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs) 1, which covers most of Whatcom County with a portion extending into Canada and Skagit County.
• Yakima County Water Resources Division Initiatives – Links to reports and information on water quality and quantity, water flow management, and riverine habitat planning.

Clean Water, Water Quality

The objective of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA), is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and non-point pollution sources, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of wastewater treatment, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands.

Under the CWA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry (see Section 404 to learn how it applies to agriculture, for example).

Federal efforts to comply with the CWA include the following EPA programs: Polluted Runoff: Nonpoint Source Pollution, which develops national water quality criteria recommendations for pollutants in surface waters, and the Clean Water Act Compliance Monitoring, which enforces federal clean water and safe drinking water laws, provides support for municipal wastewater treatment plants, and takes part in pollution prevention efforts aimed at protecting watersheds.

State efforts to comply with the CWA include the Washington DOE’s Water Quality Program and Puget Sound Partnership, which is a state-led partnership between residents, cities  tribes, scientists, and businesses working together to restore and protect Puget Sound.

Clean Water Programs

Many local clean water programs include public education and outreach.

• Clark County Clean Water Projects – Lists/links to a variety of items, including stormwater capital plan and water quality monitoring/stormwater maintenance project from past to present.
• Skagit County Clean Water Program – Improves surface water by monitoring and identifying sources of non-point pollution though public outreach and education, controlling storm water pollution, developing water quality monitoring plans, and restoring habitats. Also see the county’s Pollution Identification and Correction Program.

Animal Waste, Agricultural Practices

Animal waste produced as the result of agricultural practices, such as animal feeding operations, must be managed properly or risks to water supplies and the environment could result. The Washington DOE’s webpage on managing animal waste offers tips for both livestock and domestic pet-related waste.

Dairy Nutrient Management is a water quality program administered by the Washington State Department of Agriculture under Chapter RCW 90.64, Dairy Nutrient Management Act. This Act requires all licensed cow dairies to develop and implement nutrient management plans, register with WSDA, and participate in a program of regular inspections and compliance.

Lake and Beach Management Districts

In 2008, the lake management district provisions were amended to include the formation of beach management districts (chapter 36.61 RCW). The purpose of the lake and beach district legislation is to establish a governmental mechanism by which property owners can embark on a program of lake or beach improvement and maintenance. For more information and examples, see our page Lake and Beach Management Districts.

Shellfish Protection Districts

The provisions in Ch. 90.72 RCW encourage, and in some cases, require counties to establish shellfish protection districts and programs to curb the loss of productive shellfish beds caused by nonpoint sources of pollution, such as stormwater runoff, failing on-site sewage systems, and wastes related to agricultural practices. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) maintains a shellfish safety information map to indicate areas where shellfish should/should not be harvested.

Sample shellfish protection programs and districts are listed below.

• Clallam County Shellfish Program
• Grays Harbor County Shellfish Protection District
• Jefferson County Clean Water District
• King County Poverty Bay Shellfish Protection District
• Skagit County Clean Samish Initiative
• Whatcom County Shellfish Protection Districts

Water Quality Reports

State and federal drinking water rules require Group A community water systems – those which serve 15 or more connections or 25 or more people – to produce and distribute a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to customers and the state DOH before July 1 each year. The Washington DOH’s Preparing a Consumer Confidence Report webpage offers links to the current year's state certification form, tips for preparing a user-friendly report, and a checklist for CCR compliance.  

Below are examples of CCRs provided to customers.

Cities

• Bremerton Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
• Longview Water Distribution Division – Includes links to water quality reports.
• Mercer Island Water Utility – See Supporting Documents section for the recent report.
• Moses Lake Water Quality Reports
• Port Angeles Water Utility – See Consumer Confidence Water Quality Report section.

Special Purpose Districts

• Covington Water District Annual Water Quality Reports
• Lakehaven Water & Sewer District Water Quality
• Lakewood Water District Water Quality Report Archive
• Woodinville Water District Annual Drinking Water Quality Reports

Aquifer Protection

The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires all cities, towns, and counties to protect areas with a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water under their critical areas ordinances. For jurisdictions that fully plan under the GMA, the land use element of the comprehensive plan must provide for the protection of groundwater quality and quantity used for public water supplies under RCW 36.70A.070(1).

In addition, any county may create one or more aquifer protection areas under a separate statute, chapter 36.36 RCW, to provide funding for the protection, preservation, and rehabilitation of subterranean aquifers.

An aquifer protection area may impose fees for water consumption and/or on-site sewage disposal (septic systems). These fees may only be used for the purposes stated in RCW 36.36.040, and the county may adopt an ordinance reducing fees for low-income residents under RCW 36.36.035. The county may contract with existing public utilities to collect the fees or may collect the fees itself; see RCW 36.36.030.

The creation of an aquifer protection area requires a public hearing and voter approval with a simple majority vote. The ballot measure must state the required information in RCW 36.32.020-.030, including the maximum fees and the maximum number of years the fees will be imposed.

The aquifer protection area may not include territory located within a city or town, or within the unincorporated areas of another county, without the approval of the respective city, town, or county governing body (RCW 36.36.020).

MRSC is only aware of one aquifer protection area in the state formed under this statute – the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Protection Area – although other jurisdictions have expressed interest in such an approach.

Example

• Spokane County Resolution No. 25-0222 (2025) – Submitting ballot measure to renew Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Protection Area for 20 years, funded by water and septic fees. Includes proposed precinct boundaries, supporting resolutions from participating cities (Liberty Lake, Millwood, Spokane, and Spokane Valley), and other supporting materials.

Recommended Resources

• WA Department of Natural Resources: Groundwater – Provides information on Washington's groundwater and aquifers
• Center for Urban Waters – Develops creative and sustainable solutions to restore and protect urban waterways. Housing in the University of Washington Tacoma.
• MRSC: Water Utilities – Provides resources and sample documents for public water utilities in Washington State, with a particular emphasis on small water systems.
• Puget Sound Regional Council:
  • Guidance on Integrating Stormwater Solutions Into Comprehensive Plans (2023)
  • Stormwater Parks
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation – Manages, develops, and protects water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner.
• U.S. EPA
  • Water Home – Lists major water topics covered by EPA.
  • Healthy Watersheds Projects in Region 10 – Includes projects and resources in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
  • National Water Quality Assessment – Produces scientific data and knowledge for use by national, regional, state, and local agencies to develop science-based policies and management strategies to improve and protect water resources used for drinking water, recreation, irrigation, energy development, and ecosystem needs.
  • Washington Water Science Center – Source of information on state rivers and streams, ground water, water quality, and many other topics; Data is backed by an extensive satellite network of stream-gaging stations.
• WA Department of Commerce: Puget Sound National Estuary Program - Integrated Watershed and Stormwater Planning – Information to help integrate watershed and stormwater planning into local comprehensive planning in the Puget Sound basin.
• Washington Water Research Center – Oversees and conducts applied water-related research, fosters education and training of future water professionals, and serves as a nexus within the academic community by transferring research results to those who manage or use the Nation’s water resources. Housed within Washington State University.
• Washington State Ground Water Association – Trade association for ground water professionals dedicated to protecting, promoting, and educating ground water professionals and the public about the safe use of ground water.
• Washington Stormwater Center – Provides stormwater management solutions and leadership through research, training, and education.