Water Quality Program

Committee Positions Open - Are you interested in efforts to improve and protect water quality and reopen shellfish beds in Whatcom County? There are advisory committee positions open on the Drayton Harbor and Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District Advisory Committees. These committees meet 2 to 4 times per year and provide feedback on water quality and shellfish recovery efforts in Whatcom County. For more information, visit the County Council webpage for boards and commissions at: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/210/Boards-Commissions.

http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/396/Drayton-Harbor-Shellfish-Protection-Advi

http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/565/Portage-Bay-Shellfish-Protection-Distric

Community Solutions for Clean Water

Clean water is an invaluable resource in our community. Not only is it essential for human health, but also for the health of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and livestock. It also provides irrigation for crops and a safe place for water-based recreation.

However, did you know that at the end of 2016 only 30% of monitoring sites in Whatcom County were meeting water quality standards for bacterial pollution? This is a significant and complex issue. Ensuring clean water for our community requires everyone to be part of the solution.

Pollution Identification & Correction (PIC) Program

The PIC Program was created to help implement community solutions for clean water.

Whatcom County Public Works uses water quality monitoring data to identify priority areas for improvement programs and provides community outreach and education, technical and financial assistance for landowners, and coordination with County departments and other agencies to identify and address potential bacteria sources.

Visit the pages listed on the menu to the left to learn more about sources of bacterial pollution, water quality monitoring efforts, water quality status in Whatcom County and opportunities for community members to get involved. See our Technical and Financial Assistance page for information on our Septic Maintenance Rebate Program and other resources to assist you in correcting pollution sources and improving water quality.