Island tap hits a snag

The following article appeared in the March 31, 2006 Jefferson County edition of the Peninsula Daily News.

The article mentions that about twenty families would be using the filling station. What's not mentioned is that several of the people who use the Hadlock filling station are hauling water for more families than just their own. Also not mentioned is the number of islanders who are obtaining their water from family members, friends, and other sources off the island.

When you have a geographically isolated location, such as an island, where 20% of the wells are unusable, either because they have gone dry or are contaminated by saltwater, you have a public health problem that needs to be solved as expeditiously as possible. We hope that this situation will finally be resolved soon, and that the people who wish to hook up to public water will be able to finally make that happen.

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Island tap hits a snag
Resident criticizes water filler-up site

By Jeff Chew
Peninsula Daily News

NORDLAND — A proposed water filling station at Fort Flagler and Fort Gate roads that would serve Marrowstone Island residents with fouled or dry wells has been delayed after issues arose with its location.

Jim Parker, Jefferson County Public Utility District general manager, said Thursday that Fort Gate Road resident Richard Rothrock expressed concerns about water trucks filling up at the location, which might block his driveway and create traffic problems by turning around on the road.

Rothrock registered his concerns with Jefferson County planning officials involved in the utility district's application for the project's conditional use permit.

Concept supported, just not the site

"I'm not against this installation," said Rothrock, one of the fortunate Marrowstone residents who still have adequate potable water flowing from their wells.

"I would just like it to be in a place that doesn't do damage in the turnaround and near my driveway."

"There are people on the island that need water, and I'd like to see them get it, but not where they have to get it in my driveway."

The utility district's intention now is to run a water line down Fort Gate near the entrance to Fort Flagler State Park, then south about a mile down Fort Flagler Road for the overall utility district water service project proposed on the island, Parker said.

A water filling station at the north end of Flagler Road would be a welcomed facility to many Marrowstone residents who now buy or long-haul thousands of gallons of water between the utility district's filling station in Port Hadlock and the island.

The existing station is adjacent to the district's offices on Chimacum Road.

Some 100 of the estimated 500 wells on Marrowstone Island are either dry or contaminated by saltwater intrusion, which is a growing problem.

Ultimately, the line leading to the filling station will then be extended the entire length of Flagler Road to the south end of the island, district officials said.

After the Flagler Road backbone is in place, the lines will be extended to the county roads, which are easily reached from Flagler Road — Grffith Point Road, for example, where saltwater-fouled wells are most concentrated.

Application resubmitted

Parker said he recently resubmitted the agency's county permit application to not include the filling station.

"Right now, we'll just put in a permit without" a water-filling station, Parker said.

In addition, Parker said, "We just submitted a (state Department of Transportation) permit to run down state Highway 116 about a mile."

State Highway 116, also known as Flagler Road, runs northward from Port Hadlock to the state park entrance.

Ralph Rush, Water for Marrowstone chairman and long-time island resident, said many residents will be disappointed that a water station is not immediately going in, but there is even more concern with getting utility district water to the island altogether.

"It could be very helpful to the people on the island," said Rush, whose group represents 16 Marrowstone families.

Rush estimates about 20 residents would haul water from the filling station.

Rush said a bigger concern is the April 18 public hearing before county Hearing Examiner Irv Bertig on the utility district's shoreline application to install Marrowstone water project pipelines.

The distance to the Hadlock fill station is not so much an issue as the hills and traffic that pose problems for those hauling tons of water on the streets of Hadlock en route to the island, said Rush.

Port Townsend/Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.