Search Results - Washington State Department of Ecology

Testing drinking water

Concerned about the water in your well? Find an accredited lab to test your drinking water.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/wells/testing-drinking-water

Protecting the air and water at Hanford

We monitor cleanup efforts at Hanford to ensure clean air and water.

https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/nuclear-waste/hanford-cleanup/protecting-air-water

Improving streamflows

We help protect rivers and streams while providing water for rural areas.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/improving-streamflows

Seawater intrusion

Some coastal water wells in Washington are now unusable because of seawater intrusion. Read more about this.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/seawater-intrusion

Chamokane Creek settlement agreement - Frequently asked questions

FAQs about the settlement agreement on impacts of permit-exempt wells on flows in Chamokane Creek.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-availability/chamokane-creek/frequently-asked-questions

Groundwater permit exemption

The groundwater permit exemption allows four small uses of groundwater without a water right permit.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/groundwater-permit-exemption

Continuing education for well drillers

Continuing education is required for a Washington state well operator's license.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/wells/information-for-drillers/continuing-education

Latest videos, resources & tools - Nooksack adjudication

We are preparing to file a general stream adjudication in WRIA 1.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/adjudications/nooksack/whats-happening

Eastern Washington water projects

Our water supply and enhancement projects are providing water security in Eastern Washington.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-supply-projects-ew

Groundwater resources

We provide links and resources to learn more about groundwater.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/groundwater/groundwater-resources

Nitrate in groundwater data & assessment

Nitrogen contamination of groundwater is a problem in several areas. See where and why.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/groundwater/nitrate-data-assessment

Hirst decision

A state Supreme Court decision changed how counties issue building permits that use exempt wells.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/case-law/hirst-decision

Lake Roosevelt water rights

Our Lake Roosevelt program makes new water rights available for Columbia River cities and industry.

https://ecology.wa.gov/ecologys-work-near-you/river-basins-groundwater/columbia-river-basin-projects/lake-roosevelt-water-rights

Groundwater

We work to protect groundwater from pollution so that it's drinkable and meets state standards.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/groundwater

Water recovery solutions

As water for new uses becomes harder to find, we look for innovative solutions to meet future needs.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-recovery-solutions

Dams

The Dam Safety Office (DSO) regulates nearly 1,100 dams in Washington.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/dams

Boeing Auburn Cleanup Site

Information on the contamination cleanup at the Boeing Auburn site.

https://ecology.wa.gov/spills-cleanup/contamination-cleanup/cleanup-sites/boeing-auburn-fabrication-site

Nooksack River basin rule amendment

In 2020 we amended the existing instream flow rule for the Nooksack basin.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows/instream-flow-implementation/nooksack-basin-rule

Chamokane Creek

The tri-party agreement addresses impacts of permit-exempt wells on flows in Chamokane Creek.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-availability/chamokane-creek

Water rights

A water right is the legal authorization to use a quantity of water for beneficial uses.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights

Water availability

We study and regulate water resources by watershed. Find yours and see water availability.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-availability

Protecting stream flows

An instream flow is a water right for the stream and the resources that depend on it.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows

Got your court claim form? Here's what to do next

Guidance for what to do next when you receive your court claim form for the Nooksack water rights adjudication.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/adjudications/nooksack/court-claim-form-next-steps

Protecting aquifers

We work to protect underground water aquifers from contamination and protect drinking water.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/groundwater/protecting-aquifers

Dungeness water management

The Dungeness water management rule protects rivers and streams and manages new groundwater uses.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows/instream-flow-implementation/dungeness-water-management

Spokane River – Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer rule

This rule impacts the Spokane River and Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/protecting-stream-flows/instream-flow-implementation/spokane-river-basin-rule

Monitoring Hanford's groundwater and protecting the Columbia River

We oversee cleanup of Hanford's underground water to protect residents and the environment.

https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/nuclear-waste/hanford-cleanup/protecting-air-water/groundwater-monitoring

Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions about cleanup at the UW Tacoma site? We have answers.

https://ecology.wa.gov/spills-cleanup/contamination-cleanup/cleanup-sites/uw-tacoma/common-questions

Contaminated sites with PFAS in drinking water

Some sites on our Contaminated Sites List have groundwater contaminated with PFAS. See these cleanup sites, check your water, and find health resources.

https://ecology.wa.gov/spills-cleanup/contamination-cleanup/cleanup-sites/sites-with-pfas-in-drinking-water

King County Shoreline Master Program: locally initiated amendment

We are seeking public comment on King County's proposed update to its shoreline master program.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/shoreline-coastal-management/shoreline-coastal-planning/state-approved-shoreline-master-programs/king-county

Sullivan Lake water rights

Our Sullivan Lake program makes new water rights available in northeastern counties.

https://ecology.wa.gov/ecologys-work-near-you/river-basins-groundwater/columbia-river-basin-projects/lake-sullivan-water-rights

Odessa groundwater replacement

We're delivering surface water to irrigators who now pump from the declining Odessa Subarea aquifer.

https://ecology.wa.gov/ecologys-work-near-you/river-basins-groundwater/columbia-river-basin-projects/odessa-groundwater-replacement

Eastern Region

https://ecology.wa.gov/ecologys-work-near-you/regional-work/eastern-region

Groundwater study begins in Walla Walla Basin

March 26, 2021 News release: Well owners needed to participate in groundwater study in the Walla Walla basin

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/mar-26-walla-walla-groundwater-study

West Plains residents to receive no-cost drinking water sampling for PFAS

February 21, 2024 News release: Drinking water testing for PFAS will soon be available to about 300 private and shared wells in the northeast West Plains area at no cost to residents.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/feb-21-west-plains-sampling-for-pfas

Environmental Assessment

Our Environmental Assessment Program is the science arm of our agency.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/our-programs/environmental-assessment

PFAS contamination at Joint Base Lewis McChord and surrounding communities

Ecology monitors multiple cleanup sites at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. This page focuses on PFAS contamination in the groundwater.

https://ecology.wa.gov/spills-cleanup/contamination-cleanup/cleanup-sites/sites-with-pfas-in-drinking-water/joint-base-lewis-mcchord

Southwest Region

https://ecology.wa.gov/ecologys-work-near-you/regional-work/southwest-region

Comments sought on a program to reduce nitrate levels in Lower Yakima Valley wells

February 25, 2019 News release: The Washington Department of Ecology is opening a comment period, and jointly hosting a public hearing with Yakima County, on a proposed program to address nitrates in drinking water in the Lower Yakima Valley.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/lower-yakima-valley-groundwater-management-area

Public input sought on environmental review for new Duwamish–Green river watershed plan

March 8, 2021 News release: A new plan for the Duwamish-Green watershed lays out priorities to protect fish habitat and ensuring sufficient water for rural residents. We're seeking public comments through April 8.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/mar-8-duwamish-green-watershed-sepa-comment-period

New rules proposed to balance growth and preserve water for fish in five western Washington watersheds

June 16, 2025 News release: Ecology is opening rulemaking for five watersheds affected by the 2018 Streamflow Restoration Act.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2025/june-16-streamflow-restoration-rulemaking

State adopts new watershed plans for Puyallup River and Chambers-Clover basin

June 17, 2021 News release: New plans for the Puyallup-White and Chambers-Clover watersheds lay out priorities to protect fish habitat, while also ensuring sufficient water for rural residents.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/june-17-puyallup-chambers-clover

Washington state issues enforcement order against US Army over Yakima Training Center contamination

February 1, 2023 News release: With contamination threatening drinking water near the training center, Ecology's order requires the Army to address the environmental threat in line with state and federal standards.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/yakima-training-center-enforcement-order

Aquifer storage, recovery, & recharge

Artificially recharging groundwater can increase groundwater supplies and benefit surface water.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-recovery-solutions/aquifer-storage-recovery-recharge

Region office contacts

Contact information for our region offices.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/contact-us/region-contacts

Nisqually watershed plan earns state’s first approval under new water law

February 1, 2019 News release: A locally-developed plan to protect natural resources in the Nisqually River watershed is the first to gain approval under Washington’s streamflow restoration law, adopted last year in response to the State Supreme Court’s “Hirst” decision.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/feb-1-nisqually-watershed-plan

Ecology adopts new watershed plan for Duwamish-Green river basin

May 13, 2021 News release: A new plan for the Duwamish-Green watershed lays out priorities to protect fish habitat, while also ensuring sufficient water for rural residents.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/may-13-duwamish-green-watershed-plan-approved

Public input sought on environmental reviews for two new watershed plans in Pierce and King counties

April 29, 2021 News release: Ecology completed its environmental review of new watershed plans for the Puyallup-White and Chambers-Clover river drainage basins, and is seeking public comments through May 23.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/seeking-comment-on-environmental-reviews-for-water

Decades-long water dispute settled on Chamokane Creek

May 14, 2019 News release: Ecology, Spokane Tribe & federal government settlement on Chamokane Creek water mitigation

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/may-9-chamokane-creek-settlement

Ecology begins planning for future water use in Nooksack watershed

February 5, 2019 News release: Ecology begins rulemaking process for future water use in Nooksack watershed

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/planning-future-nooksack-water-use