Water Quality Monitoring

Whatcom County Public Works PIC program uses water quality monitoring data to identify priority areas for improvement programs and provides community outreach and education, technical and financial assistance for landowners, and coordination with County departments and other agencies to identify and address potential bacteria sources.

The Three Levels of Water Quality Monitoring

Monitoring Levels

Is Water Quality in Whatcom County Improving?

Yes! In 2022 42% of water quality sample locations met the standards to protect human health, compared to only 23% in 2015. 

Let's continue this improvement! Visit our Finding and Fixing Problems page to find out how you and your neighbors can help reduce fecal coliform pollution.

  1. How does fecal bacteria pollution get into water?
  2. Why do we test for indicator bacteria instead of pathogens to determine if water is healthy?
  3. Are wastewater treatment plants polluting the Nooksack River?
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