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Below are two maps that show the location and approximate extent of long-term groundwater monitoring programs identified during our 2002 survey that are active in Washington state. Figure 1 identifies programs that routinely collect information about groundwater quality. Figure 2 identifies programs that routinely collect information about groundwater water levels. Clicking on a specific area links you to a short description of the program, including contact information.
Figure 1 – Groundwater quality monitoring programs
Figure 2 – Groundwater water level monitoring programs
Contact:
Clark County PUD, (360)992-3000
Monitoring Objective:
To track water supply and water quality for the Public Utility District and to plan for future water supply.
Water Quality:
Water quality samples are collected quarterly from 29 private and public water supply wells in the Salmon Creek Basin for nitrate, twice annually for a suite of inorganics, and annually for volatile organic compounds.
Water Level:
Water levels are measured monthly at 130 private and public water supply wells.
Data Quality:
Follows standard sampling procedures.
Contact:
Columbia Basin GWMA, (509)488-2802, www.gwma.org
Monitoring Objective:
The Columbia Basin Groundwater Management Area (GWMA) was created in February 1998 to address elevated groundwater nitrate concentrations in Adams, Franklin, and Grant counties.
Water Quality:
Samples were collected from approximately 550 wells in the fall of 1998 and 2000 to determine the distribution of nitrate concentrations in groundwater. Monitoring of baseline wells is expected to continue every two years to identify trends in regional nitrate concentrations and their potential impact on future availability of low-nitrate drinking water.
Water Level:
Not measured.
Data Quality:
Follows standard sampling procedures.
Contact:
Franklin County Conservation District, (509)545-8546
Monitoring Objective:
To evaluate trends in groundwater nitrate concentrations over time.
Water Quality:
53 wells are sampled once every three years, mostly in the western half of the county. The wells, which have been sampled since 1986, are tested for nitrate. An additional group of approximately 40 wells has been sampled for nitrate twice annually since 1987.
Water Level:
Not measured.
Data Quality:
Follows standard sampling procedures.
Contact:
Island County Environmental Health, (360)679-7350,
http://www.islandcountyeh.org/Page/32
Monitoring Objective:
To track salt water intrusion on Whidbey and Camano Islands.
Water Quality:
The monitoring network includes 50 private wells that are sampled semi-annually (April/August) for alkalinity, calcium, chloride, specific conductivity, hardness, potassium, magnesium, sodium, nitrate, and sulfate. The county is starting to collect data on arsenic. The county hopes to expand the network to 100 wells in 2003.
Water Level:
Water levels are measured at the time of sampling.
Data Quality:
Follows standard sampling procedures.
Contact:
King County Department of Natural Resources, (206)296-8323,
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/groundwater.aspx
Monitoring Objective:
To observe trends in water quality and quantity, as well as identify new water quality problems.
Water Quality:
Water quality monitoring is conducted at 59 private and public water supply wells in five groundwater management areas: Redmond-Bear Creek Valley, Issaquah Creek Valley, Vashon/Maury Island, East King County, and South King County. Wells are sampled annually to semi-annually for the following parameters.
Field parameters: Dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductivity, temperature, and turbidity.
Inorganics: Nitrate+nitrite-N, nitrate-N, nitrite-N, pH, specific conductivity, total dissolved solids, total organic halides (TOX), total alkalinity, hardness, fluoride, calcium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and sulfate.
Bacteria: Fecal and total coliform bacteria.
Metals: Arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, selenium, silica, silver, and zinc.
In a separate monitoring program, water quality samples are collected from 21 private and public water supply wells for nitrate and chloride to detect and delineate areas of groundwater contamination from non-point pollution and sea water intrusion.
Water Level:
Water levels are measured at the time of sampling for private domestic wells. A volunteer water level monitoring network on Vashon-Maury Island consists of 21 wells measured monthly.
Data Quality: Follows standard sampling procedures.
Contact:
Okanogon County Department of Public Works, (509)422-7300
Water Quality:
Water quality data have been collected twice annually since 1991 from 14 monitoring wells in the Methow watershed near the city of Mazama. Samples are collected for pH, specific conductivity, nitrate+nitrite-N, chloride, total phosphorus, alkalinity, carbonate, and bicarbonate.
Water Level:
Water levels are measured at time of sampling.
Data Quality:
Follows standard sampling procedures. Procedures are not documented.
Contact:
Pacific County Department of Community Development, (360)875-9356
Monitoring Objective:
To observe changes in nitrate and chloride over time as indicators of non-point pollution sources.
Water Quality:
The well network currently includes 24 monitoring and private wells on the Long Beach Peninsula that are sampled twice annually for nitrate+nitrite-N and chloride. The monitoring network was set up by the USGS in the 1990’s and sampling by the county has continued since 1995.
Water Level:
Water levels are collected at the time of sampling.
Data Quality:
Follows standard sampling and quality assurance procedures.
Contact:
Spokane County Utilities, (509)477-3604, http://www.spokanecounty.org/wqmp
Monitoring Objective:
To track water quality trends in the Spokane Valley aquifer from non-point sources such as nitrates from failing on-site sewage systems and chloride from stormwater runoff.
Water Quality:
water quality monitoring at 15 public supply wells and 26 monitoring wells from Spokane Valley aquifer. Wells are sampled quarterly for the following parameters:
Field parameters: pH, specific conductivity, and temperature.
Inorganics: Calcium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, sodium, sulfate, fluoride, total nitrate+nitrite-N, total dissolved solids, orthophosphate, and total phosphorus.
Metals: Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, and zinc.
Water Level:
Water levels are measured in 26 monitoring wells at the time of sampling.
Data Quality:
Follows standard sampling procedures. Minimum amount of quality assurance sampling.
Contact: Thurston County Environmental Health, (360)867-2626, http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ehdw/index.html
Monitoring Objective:
To detect changes in water quality and water levels in the north end of the county.
Water Quality:
42 private wells are sampled twice annually for nitrate+nitrite-N, iron and manganese.
Water Level:
Water levels are measured quarterly.
Data Quality:
Follows standard sampling procedures as approved by the Department of Ecology.
The cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater have EPA-approved Wellhead Protection programs. Forty-two wells are monitored in the three cities.
Lacey: Collects water levels and water quality samples twice annually from six monitoring wells for nitrate. Volatile organics and synthetic organic compounds (pesticides) are sampled occasionally from some of the wells.
Olympia: Collects water level and water quality data from a combination of 20 wells including monitoring, private and public water supply wells. Samples are collected quarterly for nitrate, iron and manganese and annually for bacteria, inorganics, EDB/DBCP/DBC and volatile organics.
Tumwater: Collects water level and water quality samples from 11 monitoring wells and five private wells annually. Samples are collected for nitrate and volatile organics. Water levels are measured monthly at 15 wells.
All three Wellhead Protection programs follow standard sampling procedures.
Contact:
Kitsap County PUD, (360)779-7656
Monitoring Objective:
Water level monitoring began in 1991 to address the county groundwater management plan.
Water Quality:
The PUD has begun to collect chloride water quality data to track possible salt water intrusion.
Water Level:
Water level monitoring network includes 175 private and public water supply wells throughout the county.
Data Quality:
Follows standard procedures.
Contact:
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, (253)798-3529
Monitoring Objective:
Pierce County evaluates Department of Health data to track water quality trends in aquifers. Water levels are monitored primarily related to capital improvement projects.
Water Quality:
The Health Department works closely with the Group A well purveyors to collect Department of Health water quality data and production rates. The wells are spread throughout the county in four basins and three aquifers.
Water Level:
A volunteer water level monitoring program was started in 1996. Group A well purveyors measure water levels monthly from 140 wells. Water levels are also measured in an additional 50 shallow monitoring wells south of Tacoma in the Muck and Clover Creek basins by the county’s Public Works Department.
Data Quality:
Follows standard sampling procedures. Water level monitoring procedures are not documented.
Contact:
Water Resource Program – Department of Ecology
Central Regional Office: (509)575-2490
Eastern Regional Office: (509)456-2926
Northwest Regional Office: (425)649-7000
Southwest Regional Office: (360) 407-6300
Monitoring Objective:
To track water levels over time, primarily in high use areas.
Water Level:
Water levels are currently measured in about 370 private and monitoring wells across the state by the Department of Ecology’s regional offices.
Central Regional Office (12A): Water levels are measured in 244 wells, 121 of which are located in Yakima. The remaining wells are spread throughout the central area counties of Klickitat (49), Benton (37), Kittitas (14), Douglas (12), Okanogan (11) and Chelan (0). Water levels are measured in the spring and occasionally in the fall.
Eastern Regional Office (12B): Water levels are measured in 60-70 wells, located primarily in the Odessa area of Lincoln, Adams and Grant counties. Water levels are measured in the spring.
Northwest Regional Office (12C): Water levels are measured in 22 monitoring wells, which are located in the following counties, Island (13), San Juan (4), Kitsap (2), Skagit (1), Snohomish (1), and Whatcom (1). Water levels are typically measured in the spring and fall.
Southwest Regional Office (12D): Water levels are measured in 33 wells, which are located in the following counties, Clallam (10), Pacific (7), and Thurston (16). Water levels are measured quarterly to twice annually.
Data Quality:
Measurements are taken following standard procedures.
Contact:
Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee (PBAC), (208)885-4569, http://www.uidaho.edu/pbac/
Monitoring Objective:
To track water level changes in the Grand Ronde Aquifer which supplies 90% of water to communities in the Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho region.
Water Level:
Water levels and pumping rates are currently tracked in about 20 municipal wells. Water levels are also measured occasionally at about 30 other wells scattered throughout the region.
Data Quality:
Unknown
Contact: Yakama Nation, (509)865-5121
Monitoring Objective:
To observe water table elevations.
Water Level:
Water levels are measured monthly in about 50 wells, which include drought relief wells, monitoring wells and irrigation wells. Monitoring began in the 1970’s.
Data Quality:
Unknown
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