Columbia Pulp I

How does Columbia Pulp I compare with other water systems in Columbia County?

By EPA's size categories, Columbia Pulp I is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Columbia County has 13 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 364 people per system, and accounts for 0.5% of the 4,729 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Washington, the 4,705 active systems average 2,172 people each. Nationally, the average active non-transient non-community water system reports serving 430 people, so Columbia Pulp I is well below that figure.

What does “non-transient non-community water system” mean?

A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. Washington has 400 active non-transient non-community water systems, 8.5% of the state's 4,705 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 4,370 Washington systems (93%) list groundwater as their primary source.

Who owns and regulates Columbia Pulp I?

EPA lists Columbia Pulp I as privately owned. The WA state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 8 of the 13 active systems in Columbia County (62%) are also privately owned.