Island County, Washington — public water systems

How does Island County compare with other Washington counties?

Island County has the 3rd-most active public water systems among the 72 counties listed for active Washington systems in EPA records; among the 44 with 3 or more systems, the median has 75. Its systems report 102,977 people served in total, the 16th-largest county figure in the state and 1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 335 people, well below the Washington average of 2,172. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Island County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Island County's active systems draw on groundwater (302, 98%), purchased surface water (3, 1%) and purchased groundwater (2, 0.7%). Overall, 99% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 1% on surface water, compared with 94% and 5.7% across Washington. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, City of Oak Harbor, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Island County?

Island County's active systems break down as 233 community systems (76%), 13 non-transient non-community systems (4.2%) and 61 transient non-community systems (20%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. 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. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (89%), local government (8.8%), state government (1.6%) and federal government (0.3%).