Comments on: Water is a key issue in the growing buy-local movement

By: cdunagan

cdunagan — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:23:35 +0000

Vern,

Much of what you say is valid, but I’m wondering about your statement, “Every new house with a well diminishes an already over-obligated supply.”

Are you suggesting that the groundwater supply on the Kitsap Peninsula has been over-allocated, or are you thinking of some specific areas? From the studies I recall, there are supplies of unused groundwater; they’re just not always in the right places.

Or is your greater concern with the random nature of exempt wells, which pose an increased risk for reduced streamflows?

It’s a balancing act. The future of the Kitsap Peninsula depends on the future of rainfall and whether water is allowed to seep into the ground. It’s a different story for the surrounding areas, where a declining snowpack has a direct impact on available supplies.

This is a topic that probably deserves some input from the experts.

By: Vern Rutter

Vern Rutter — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:35:30 +0000

Yes storage is a potential and partial solution. So is wise use of irrigation, e.g., drip and other focused and less intensive uses of water.

But the real issue is that there is already not enough water to go around. Something will have to give, including the 5k/day exemption.

If we’re smart (KitCo Commishes) we should be aggressively limiting new housing in the hinterlands in favor of farms and microagriculture.

Every new house with a well diminishes an already over-obligated supply.

By: BIG

BIG — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:23:15 +0000

Water availability is not dependent upon “new policies, procedures, laws, or ultimately court battles”. It is a limited resource i.e. there is only so much of it. If you mean mandating more efficient use of water, prioritization of its use (outlaw lawns) etc then the same amount of water can be used for different purposes that have a greater benefit. The use of rainwater catchments is not an answer in and of itself. It will interupt the water cycle and ultimately reduce the amount of water available to a prior user.

By: usedbookman

usedbookman — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:25:51 +0000

This is primarily a problem of those lucky enough to own more than five acres. The exemption on a private well allows 5,000 gallons a day, or enough for a 2 1/2 acre farm. In South Kitsap, 2 1/2 acre parcels are most prevalent.

By: Alternative

Alternative — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:04:09 +0000

Perhaps it would be cheaper to get a permit for a cistern storage system? We get plenty of water during the Winter and Spring if it could only be stored appropriately. I don’t know how much water they would need, but if the well permit alone is a hundred grand that would pay for a big underground cistern.