If you own a well in Whatcom County, you might be feeling overwhelmed right now.

Many homeowners recently received certified mail serving them as defendants in a lawsuit filed by the WA Department of Ecology. If that sounds alarming—you’re not alone. But before panic sets in, I want you to know:

💧 You didn’t do anything wrong. This is part of a legal process called adjudication, where the state is sorting out who has rights to use water from the Nooksack River system—including private wells.

💧 You must respond. Ignoring the summons could mean giving up your legal right to use your well in the future and prevent you from selling in the future.

💧 You’ll need to report your water use—and accuracy matters.
~If you underreport, your future water rights could be limited.
~Be thorough! Document your household, garden, animals—anything your well supports.

💧 There’s no cost to file your claim, and you can continue using your well during this process.

Workshops and resources are available to help you understand the process and complete your claim. You can visit whatcomcounty.us/4282 for official info, dates, and documents.

I know this is stressful, and I’m here to help my clients understand what this means for their homes and property values. If you have questions or just need reassurance, let’s talk.