Contact: Jalyn Cummings, L.G, L.HG
Water Resources Program Manager
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Description: Groundwater is the sole source of drinking water on Bainbridge Island. It is a primary goal to protect this resource. |
THE CHALLENGE: The City gathers water level data and chloride data. Water level data is used to help assess the quantity of water in different aquifers. Chloride data is an indicator of seawater intrusion which occurs when saltwater intrudes into fresh water supplies (see diagrams below). This data is currently being collected island-wide and will be used in the development of a numerical groundwater model (see project highlight on adjacent page).
Long-term groundwater monitoring is essential in making any planning decisions that may deal with groundwater availability and sustainability.
THE SOLUTION:
In 2006, the City worked with Aspect Consulting to establish a long-term groundwater monitoring well network and a groundwater database. To date, the groundwater monitoring program has completed the following tasks:
·Preparation of a Groundwater Baseline Memorandum
·Evaluation of existing monitoring and identification of new wells for groundwater monitoring network expansion
·Arrangement for data sharing with PUD #1 of Kitsap County (KPUD) and private water purveyors
·Preparation of a Sampling and Analysis Plan
·Construction and population of a database with graphical spreadsheet output
·Specification of Early Warning Levels and monitoring response protocols for seawater intrusion and safe yield
·Preliminary analysis of aquifer conditions
·Recommendations for future work
The results of this work can be found at
www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us. Click on “Projects” at the top of the page to find “Water Resources Program” on the left.
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