Water Resources Advisory Board

The meeting centered on water resources planning and infrastructure challenges facing Bellingham. The 2026 work plan reveals the complexity of managing municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater systems while meeting evolving regulatory requirements. **Water System Planning:** The city's water system plan remains delayed due to comments from the Department of Ecology regarding water adjudication. Olinger explained that Ecology is working to align the city's claimed water rights with their records, particularly concerning historical rights from the early 1900s Fairhaven Water acquisition. The city holds water rights "all over the place" including Lake Whatcom, Middle Fork Nooksack, Lake Padden, and various creeks, with "hundreds and hundreds of thousands of documents" requiring review. **Storage Strategy:** The city faces immediate needs for increased reservoir capacity on King Mountain, with staff already beginning contractor selection for design work. The approach may involve multiple smaller storage facilities rather than one large reservoir, with decisions affecting 20…

**Mike Olinger (Deputy Public Works Director)** served as the primary presenter, emphasizing transparency and community engagement while acknowledging the complexity of balancing regulatory requirements with financial realities. He stressed that even "information only" items welcome board feedback. **Joel Pfundt (Public Works Director)** provided strategic context, particularly around decision-making processes and the need to balance competing priorities while maintaining accountability to the community. **Riley Grant** outlined plans for a new annual utility report to improve transparency about how rate increases translate into system improvements, responding to com…

**Jerry, on his alternative biosolids proposal:** "I'm here to tell you folks that I believe we have a better solution than to emit PFAS into our community. There's no way our incinerators with all of the emissions controls we're gonna do that we're gonna prevent polluting our community." **Mike Olinger, on the regulatory uncertainty around nutrient reduction:** "Yeah, new day and we're still a little confused as to what the new day is." **Joel Pfundt, on balancing competing priorities:** "…

The board elected new leadership with Rick Eggerth as Chair and Bret Beaupain as Vice Chair, representing a role swap from the previous year. The Post Point Notice of Violation moved from active enforcement to settled compliance plan with defined timeline and budget authority. The state's nutrient reduction approach shifted from a general permit process to individual fac…

### Meeting Overview The City of Bellingham Water Resources Advisory Board met on January 27, 2026, for its first meeting of the year. The board elected new officers, reviewed the 2026 work plan, and received updates on major utility projects including the Post Point wastewater treatment facility emissions upgrade and ongoing water system planning. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Water Resources Advisory Board (WRAB):** Nine-member citizen advisory board that provides input to the City Council on water, wastewater, and stormwater utility matters. **Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO):** When wastewater treatment systems become overwhelmed (typically during heavy rain), untreated sewage overflows into storm systems and eventually into the bay. Bellingham is allowed one CSO event per year on average. **GCCM (General Contractor Construction Management):** An alternative project delivery method where a contractor is brought in early to participate in design, helping reduce change orders and construction issues. **Nutrient Reduction Evaluation (NRE):** Process to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus discharged from wastewater treatment plants to protect Puget Sound water quality. **Water System Plan:** Comprehensive planning document that guides water system operations, infrastructure investments, and regulatory compliance. **Inflow and Infiltration (I&I):** Rainwater that enters the sewer system through pipe defects, illegal connections, or other pathways, reducing treatment capacity. **Department of Ecology (DOE):** State agency that regulates water quality, water rights, and wastewater discharge permits. **Lake Whatcom:** Primary drinking water source for Bellingham, requiring special protection due to its status as a municipal water supply. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Rick Eg…