Overview
Can the wet Northwest possibly lack freshwater resources?
In a word, yes. Despite its reputation as a wet place, most of the Northwest island region receives less than 25 inches of precipitation a year. Dry summers make freshwater a limiting resource for many ecosystems and human activities.

Northwest island water issues are mounting.
With the growing year round and seasonal population surges throughout the San Juan Islands, water resources are already stressed from increased demand.

Inadequate rainfall during the summer drought makes rainwater catchment a feasible water supply for only the intermittent user or people willing to commit to a lifestyle of more conservative water use. High storage costs of $1-$1.50/gallon often make this alternative uneconomical to pursue.

Surface water resources on the islands are often insignificant to tap. Excessive ground water overdraft from wells is responsible for the growing incidence of seawater intrusion found throughout San Juan Island county, especially on Lopez Island.

For residents of this idyllic archipelago and the Gulf Islands to the north, solutions to growing water shortages can be found in a combination of conservation, water reuse strategies and saltwater desalination using reverse osmosis.

What can be done to solve the problem?
Water conservation and judicious well operation practices can help reduce seawater intrusion. But that alone can’t solve the problem. San Juan County’s growing population will continue to put increased demand on the archipelago’s limited and fragile freshwater resources.

Watec offers another solution by tapping the most abundant water resource in the region—the ocean. Our customized residential and commercial seawater desalination plants use reverse osmosis technology to create abundant and sustainable freshwater supplies.

Economical, efficient and eco-friendly, today’s advanced desalination technology can supply water to the region while keeping our ground and surface water resources from becoming depleted or diverted from their other important environmental uses.