Groundwater Protection - Protection Areas

What is a Drinking Water Protection Area?

Drinking Water Protection Areas (DWPAs) are drawn around water supply wells to represent the primary recharge areas for the drinking water well.

The term recharge refers to the process of precipitation (rainwater or snowmelt) soaking down through the ground and refilling the aquifer.

The drinking water protection area is determined by:

• Studying soil and geology to determine how quickly groundwater is recharged; and
• Understanding the speed and direction of groundwater flow within the aquifer.

The City of Olympia is required by the Washington Department of Health to develop Wellhead Protection Plans for each of its drinking water sources. A Wellhead Protection Plan defines the flow of groundwater to a drinking water source, identifies contamination risks to groundwater, and then presents an action plan for long-term protection. Wellhead Protection Plans are updated every six years.

The City of Olympia recently updated our Wellhead Protection Plan and revised our Drinking Water Protection Areas. See the maps below for the new  Drinking Water Protection Areas. Review the most frequently asked questions regarding our proposed Drinking Water Protection Areas.

Do I Live in a Drinking Water Protection Area?

The City of Olympia has eight DWPAs. Most of the people who live in these areas live outside the Olympia city limits. The eight areas include:

McAllister Springs and Wellfield

Two DWPAs located in north Thurston County protect McAllister Springs (S01) and the planned McAllister Wellfield (S14). The Springs supplies the entire service area year round, providing about 84.0 percent of the City's drinking water. Within the next six years, the Utility plans to develop the McAllister Wellfield southeast of the Springs to replace the more vulnerable Springs source. Download a printer-friendly version of the McAllister Springs or McAllister Wellfield DWPA map.

East Olympia

Three DWPAs in southeast Olympia protect three wells: Hoffman Well 3 (S08), Shana Park Well 11 (S10), and Indian Summer Well 20 (S12). Currently, before Indian Summer begins production in late 2008, Shana Park provides about 5.2 percent of the City's annual supply, primarily between May and October. The City plans to cut back on the use of Shana Park Well once the Indian Summer Well comes online. Hoffman Well is rarely used. Download a printer-friendly version of the Hoffman, Shana Park or Indian Summer DWPA map.

Briggs Well

In East Olympia, a new DWPA has been delineated for the Briggs Well (S13), which is planned for completion by December 2009. The well will be on the site of the Briggs Village development (former Briggs Nursery) near Ward Lake. Download a printer-friendly map of the Briggs DWPA.

West Olympia

Two DWPAs in West Olympia protect three wells, which supplement McAllister Springs, providing crucial summer season water to the west side of Olympia. Allison Springs Well 13 (S09) and Well 19 (S11) provide an average of about 9.3 percent of the City's total supply, primarily between May and October. Kaiser Well 1 (S03), near Kaiser Road, provides another 1.5 percent, primarily between July and September. Download a printer-friendly version of the Allison Springs or Kaiser Well DWPA map.

Learn More about the DWPA Wellfields

Download our printer-friendly table that summarizes the hydrogeologic characteristics of each wellfield.

Staff Contacts:

Donna Buxton, 360.753.8793 or via e-mail at publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us.

Contact Information

• Visit our City Services page for links to other City Services and contact information (phone numbers)
• Contact us at: publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us