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DRINKING WATER PROGRAM

Environmental Health
Water Testing
Well Disinfection
Well Protection
Water Systems
Well Drilling
Water Availability
Well Logs
Complaints
The Drinking Water Program protects public health by helping to ensure Clallam County has safe drinking water.  The program protects public health by helping prevent water related illness.  We work with individual well owners and owners of community water systems, and offer these services:

  • Providing water testing facilities for individual and public water systems.
  • Providing information and answering questions about safe drinking water.
  • Offering Well 101 classes.
  • Investigating suspected water related illnesses.
  • Making sure building projects have safe drinking water before building permits are issued.
  • Helping to ensure that new public water system wells are located away from potential contamination sources.
  • Reviewing plans and monitoring water quality for small public water systems.  (Washington State reviews and monitors large systems.)
  • Maintaining drinking water records with information about large and small public water systems, including water test results.
  • Assisting the State of Washington's Drinking Water Program with local projects.

Water Testing
Clallam County has an in-house laboratory facility to test for bacteria and nitrates in drinking water.  We provide these services for individuals and community water systems.  Individuals may test their water if they have a private well, or if they want to check water that comes from a community system.  Community systems are required to test their water on a regular basis, and the lab reports these results to the State Department of Health.  Water testing and proof of potable water availability are frequently required for building permits.

Water Systems
Public water systems are regulated by the Washington State Department of Health.  The Environmental Health Division provides information to water system owners and managers on how to achieve compliance with state water quality and wellhead protection requirements.  Clallam County approves and monitors smaller water systems, while the State of Washington approves and monitors larger systems.

Natural Resources
Clallam County's Natural Resources Division monitors the quality of surface water found in our rivers, streams, lakes and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  They manage watershed planning, salmon recovery, and planning issues related to ground water and water quality.  For more information about their programs, please visit their website or contact them at (360) 417-2543.

Water Links

We recommend that you do not take your drinking water from surface sources, such as irrigation ditches and streams.  If you choose to do so, we suggest that you boil it prior to use and have it tested frequently.  This water is much more likely to be contaminated with bacteria, viruses and chemicals than water from wells.

We have brochures about water conservation available.
Contact us to request one.

Contact Environmental Health with questions or comments about the information on this page.