Should Exempt Wells be Allowed in the Eastsound Area?


Exempt wells in the Eastsound basin place a burden on the aquifer, and they do not create revenue for Eastsound Water Users Ass. (EWUA.)

One of Eastsound Water Users' (EWUA) solutions is that the well owner abandon's the well and buys an EWUA membership
so they can buy the same water from the aquifer from EWUA rather than having to deal with their own well.
This is based on the argument that there is not enough water in the aquifer for an exempt well owner to withdraw,
but there is enough water there if EWUA withdraw the same water it and sells it to them. I do not agree with this argument.

Exempt wells use on average about 334 gpd of which only 85 gpd is consumptive, not 5000 gpd as used in the EWUA calculations and the county statement that the aquifer is oversubscribed.This is a very significant difference.

Island County has a scientifically based policy that does not appear to be based on financial pressures.

The Eastsound Aquifer could indeed be oversubscribed beyond its ability to recharge, but existing published measurements do not  support this claim.
When EWUA submitted a water right modification to move their wells around (but not increase the withdrawal),
it was important that there was sufficient recharge, or other wells would be impacted and the application would be rejected.
But once the change was approved the same reports are now being used in attempts to back the claim that the aquifer does not have sufficient recharge.
These positions are not consistent, read the DOE Report of Examination carefully for yourself. (Search this Word docuement for "sustainable" or "exempt").

After reviewing EWUA's reports, the state DOE concluded that the existing rate of withdrawal is sustainable,
and that a significant source of aquifer recharge (mountain front recharge) has not been included in the EWUA model.
There are several problems with the Eastsound model.

If the recharge were indeed too low, the first symptoms would be:
Someone suggested the argument that exempt wells are bad for EWUA revenues,
they spend significant money to develop the infrastructure, but they don't get revenue from an exempt well owner.
Maybe if memberships had been available, he would not have needed a well!
Hard to argue with the someone wanting a monopoly and having the county declare competition (wells) illegal would be great for the company revenue!

We have been assured by EWUA at the East Orcas Water Supply meetings that EWUA is no longer interested
in a moratorium on exempt wells. I believe there is little incentive to drill a well in Eastsound now, but well permits are issued by the state.

The average exempt well draws 334 gpd, of which only 85 gpd is consumptive (Does not go back into the ground)
Not 5000 gpd (58.8 times the realistic number).


Usually a water right permit is required from the Washington State Dept. of Ecology before constructing a well. There is an exception in RCW 90.44.050 for several uses including stock watering, gardens, lawns, single and multiple domestic use not exceeding 5000 gpd. A water right for 5000 gpd is not automatically created by constructing an exempt well. Only that portion put to "regular beneficial use" can be perfected as a right. The is described in RCW 90.03.290. Exempt withdrawals should not interfere with senior rights.

Here is the Attorney General's opinion on exempt ground water withdrawals (published by WA DOE).
Chehalis Basin Watershed Planning issued an outstanding paper on exempt wells.

BOCC 1/27/2003  meeting minutes on the proposed moratorium on exempt wells in Eastsound
Sandy's response to the Islands' Sounder article on a proposed moratorium on wells in Eastsound
Letter to the Board of County Commissioners about Eastsound ground water modeling
Ecology guidelines that allow us to use estimated use for exempt wells and recharge of the ground water due to septic systems
Estimates of Ground Water Recharge by Laura A. Orr, Henry H. Bauer, and J.A. Wayenberg

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These pages are intended to include relevant public information for the benefit of those who care about these remarkable watersheds on Orcas  Island. The ideas and opinions presented here do not necessarily represent the policies, procedures or opinions of  Olga Water Users Inc. or it's board. My thanks to Olga Water Users for allowing this to be posted under their web site.

If you have information to add, or corrections,  please call Sandy Taylor at 376 3815.
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I hope this information useful to the community.

Last updated Feb 7, 2005