Groundwater Protection - The Basics

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In Olympia, and most of Thurston County, we drink groundwater; water that is found below the Earth's surface.

Groundwater is Stored in Aquifers 

In the Puget Sound region, aquifers are underground chunks and layers of sand and gravel that can transmit and store significant quantities of water.  Aquifers are recharged by precipitation (rain and snow) that falls on the ground. 

In Olympia, we get about 52 inches of rainfall each year.  About half of that amount soaks into the ground to recharge our groundwater aquifers. Aquifers not only provide us with our fresh drinking water through wells and springs, they also recharge rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands.

Keeping Groundwater Clean

Our activities at home or at work can affect the quality of the groundwater beneath us. For example, yard and household chemicals, stormwater runoff, leaking underground storage tanks, failing septic systems, or other contaminants can easily seep into groundwater and pollute it. 
Groundwater Protection basics
If groundwater becomes contaminated, it is very expensive and frequently impossible to clean up. A new source of drinking water must be found for a community, placing a huge burden on public funds, homeowners, and businesses.   

Our Goal? Clean Drinking Water

The goal of the Groundwater Protection Program is to protect groundwater to ensure clean drinking water for current and future generations and avoid the need for expensive treatment facilities.

The Groundwater Protection Program is organized around five strategies.

  1. Monitor groundwater quality to detect contamination, evaluate pollution reduction efforts, and conduct research to better understand risks to groundwater.
  2. Implement social marketing programs to change behaviors that place groundwater at risk, and raise awareness about aquifers and the need for groundwater protection.
  3. Prevent groundwater contamination in Drinking Water Protection Areas through spill prevention and spill response.
  4. Collaborate with county and state agencies in groundwater protection efforts.
  5. Strengthen City policies, development review process and program management to ensure groundwater protection goals are met.

Staff Contacts

Victoria DeCillo, 360.753.8463 and Liz Hoenig, 360.753.8152