While water is a scarce and treasured resource in many communities worldwide, in Western Washington, we may believe we have abundant water given our proximity to the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound, our many lakes and rivers, and of course, our plentiful rainfall. As illustrated below, rainfall is considered a renewable source because of its place in the water cycle. However, most of us rely on groundwater (including aquifers, as in the Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed) for our water supply, yet groundwater flow is dynamic and variable. Recharge of underground aquifers through layers of rock and soil primarily occurs through rainwater or snow melt. Notably, groundwater is considered a non-renewable resource. Thus, we should all be vested in prioritizing a healthy and protected groundwater system.

Groundwater accumulation and flow can be affected by many factors, both natural and man-made. A recent study of the impact of groundwater extraction on the Earth’s poles using data collected between 1993 and 2010 indicates that human depletion of groundwater and the accompanying sea-level rise caused the north and south poles to drift by about 2.6 feet. The US and India alone pumped 2,150 gigatons of groundwater during the study period, which had the largest impact on the axis. Other research has indicated that groundwater removal that drains into oceans, as in the illustration, has resulted in rising sea levels.

What can we do about the health of our groundwater? Report flooding, broken pipelines, dry or reduced levels of creeks, rivers, and lakes, blockages such as dams in waterways, and water pollution that can reduce our water quality and quantity. Watershed cities and Pierce County have different ways to report problems:

Pierce County Surface Water Management Report a Problem

City of Dupont, See Report a Problem

City of Fircrest, See Report a Problem

City of Lakewood, Use Lakewood 311 (link or download the app)

City of Ruston, See Report a Problem

City of Tacoma, See Problems, dial 311, or call (253) 591-5000