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Jefferson County Public Health –Performance Measures 2010 - Report
DRINKING WATER PROGRAM
MISSION: The mission of the Drinking Water Program is to protect public health by assuring that
residents and visitors to Jefferson County have access to a safe and reliable supply of quality drinking
water. The Drinking Water Program assists in achieving compliance with regulations for private and
public water supplies by owners, purveyors and the drilling community in coordination with the
Washington Department of Ecology and Department of Health, thereby minimizing the threat of
waterborne disease.
GOALS FOR FY 2010:
1. Assure that all new wells are constructed in accordance with requirements established by the
Washington Department of Ecology.
2. Provide technical assistance when requested so that individual water supplies are safe.
3. Where regulatory authority exists, such as the Food Safety Program or water adequacy review
for building permit approval, we work to limit public exposure to water systems with known
deficiencies.
4. Integrate water adequacy review information with the Jefferson County GIS mapping program to
maintain the Seawater Intrusion Protection Zone information.
OBJECTIVES FOR FY 2010:
1. Inspect at least 50% of all new wells constructed (25% of these with the well driller present) and
properly decommission 90% of abandoned wells identified during the year.
2. Maintain high rates of compliance with State well drilling regulations.
3. Review all building permits and project applications to assure that potable water supplies meet
basic public health standards as well comply with State statutory and regulatory requirements.
4. Provide technical guidance to any residents requesting assistance with their individual or small
water systems to deliver safe drinking water.
5. Establish appropriate policies for alternative water supply systems.
6. Continue contracting with Washington Department of Health for public water supply projects, as
long as adequate funding is provided.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Actual
2010
Projected
2010
Actual
Number of well applications received &
reviewed
127 76 83 80 62
Number of new wells start notification
(drilled) (includes some well applications from
previous years)
108 79 77 75 63
Number of wells decommissioned 16 17 8 12 13
Number of new wells inspected (start
notification received)
67 48 53 31 40
Percent of new wells (starts) inspected 62% 63% 68% 55% 64%
Percent of new wells (starts) inspected with
driller on site
62%
Number of decommissioned (abandoned)
wells inspected
16 17 8 12 13
Percent decommissioned (abandoned) well
inspected
100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
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SUMMARY OF KEY FUNDING/SERVICE ISSUES:
Increased tracking will be done within existing databases such as permit plan and the food service
database. Coordination between the Solid Waste team Site Hazard Assessment work and the Drinking
Water program (both internally and at the State level) is improving. This coordination enables better
protection of the groundwater and improved communication with those involved. Where funding is
available, we need to update our database to include the following: (1) new requirements associated
with the Water Management Rule for WRIA 17, (2) more effective reporting of drinking water quality
issues, and (3) make information readily available for the public and define effort for future focus. This
year, two projects highlighted the apparent lack of regulatory authority to enforce standard setback
requirements from individual wells where municipal sewer lines are proposed. The two projects were:
Eco Village project in Port Townsend and the Dosewallips State Park sewer system. In regards to the
Eco Village project, the sewer line was designed, approved and installed less than 50’ to an irrigation
well. The proposed sewer lines for the Dosewallips State Park (that run through Brinnon) were
designed without regard to locations of existing single family residential wells and group B water
systems. To eliminate this confusing inconsistency, it may be prudent to establish a policy or ordinance
to authorize this department regulatory authority over these situations.
2010 STUDY/ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
Applications for well inspections continue to be down substantially after several years of an increase in
well drilling activities. The number of wells drilled in the county this year is approximately 58% of
2007. Drilling activities have generally been declining since 2008, basically mirroring the local and state
economy.
The increase in well decommissioning would likely be attributed to expansions/repairs and upgrades of
septic systems on properties where public water is available and setback requirements cannot be met,
without decommissioning the well. We are also tracking a decommissioning that occurs as a result of an
initial attempt to drill, where the result is either dry or untreatable water (mostly chlorides), and the well is
decommissioned prior to the driller leaving the site. We started tracking this in 2007.
The economic downturn has impacted all applications for development in the county. As a result, staffing
has been decreased, hours reduced and programs reassigned. There is no longer a staff member dedicated
exclusively to working in the drinking water program.
A funding source should be evaluated to consistently provide adequate staffing to focus on water issues in
Jefferson County. Water quality and quantity is a topic expected to be at the forefront of future economic
and environmental sustainability. Lacking appropriate energy directed to the issue, staff will be at a
severe disadvantage to appropriately respond to the public regarding concerns.
March 1, 2011