City of Spokane Considers Rejoining County Aquifer Protection Area

Erin Hut, Communications Director, 509.625.6740

Monday, March 24, 2025 at 9:18 a.m.

In March, the newly established Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Board recommended that the City Council ask voters to rejoin the Spokane County Aquifer Protection Area. In April, the Council will propose that voters decide on this measure, which is scheduled for renewal later this year.

The APA has operated for the last 40 years, and funds raised are used for projects that protect the aquifer from pollution, educate about the importance of the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, and provide long-term water quality monitoring and research. The City of Spokane was part of the APA for 20 years, but didn’t participate when the measure was renewed in 2004.

“Protection of our sole source aquifer is critical to the City of Spokane because we operate the largest drinking water utility in the region,” says Mayor Lisa Brown. “The opportunity to rejoin the APA is important as we face new threats to the health of our sole-source aquifer by things like PFAS and other contaminants, climate change, and increased urban activities over the aquifer.”

Spanning north Idaho and Eastern Washington, and directly below the ground surface of the metropolitan area of Spokane County is the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, which is designated a sole-source aquifer serving more than 500,000 people in our community.

"We are committed to protecting our water resources, and the upcoming resolution for voters to rejoin the county aquifer protection area is essential for our community's sustainability,” said Council President Betsy Wilkerson.  “We safeguard our aquifers and demonstrate responsible environmental stewardship by renewing this measure.”

APAs are authorized by state law and can be used to pay for a variety of activities to protect water quality in underground aquifers, including everything from stormwater management to water quality protection best management practices to education.   

Within the City, single family residential properties connected to water would pay $15 a year toward those activities. The fee would be charged on a resident’s property tax bill.    

The recently formed Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Board for the City of Spokane voted to approve a resolution recommending that the Council approve asking City voters to consider rejoining the Aquifer Protection Area at their March meeting.   

About Aquifer Protection Area Fees  
Fees would total $15 per year for a single family home in the City of Spokane. Multi-family and commercial properties would be charged based on the size of their water meters.   

The measure is estimated to generate approximately $1.8 million annually, within the City, and could be used for activities such as:  

  • Preparation of a comprehensive plan to protect, preserve, and rehabilitate subterranean water  
  • Construction of facilities to address water-borne pollution, improve water quality, manage wastewater and stormwater, and deliver safe drinking water   
  • Monitoring and inspecting on-site sewage disposal systems or community sewage disposal systems for compliance  
  • Monitoring the quality and quantity of subterranean water and analyzing data that is collected  
  • Public education relating to protecting, preserving, and enhancing subterranean waters  
  • Investing in infrastructure that addresses pollutants of concern, such as PFAS  
  • Controlling stormwater in both separated and combined sewer areas  
  • Delivering projects that would mitigate the impacts of climate change on the aquifer  

Then, Now, and Next  

  • 1985 – Washington State Legislature approved a bill giving counties the authority to create an Aquifer Protection Area. The Spokane County Commissioners passed a resolution creating the Spokane-Rathdrum Aquifer Protection Area, allowing for the collection of fees for water withdrawal and on-site sewage disposal. In September, voters who resided within the designated area approved the measure and authorized the collection of aquifer fees for a 20-year period, from 1986 through 2005.
  • 2004 - A ballot measure to renew Aquifer Protection Area fees for 20 more years was approved again by voters asked to consider the measure. The City of Spokane didn’t choose to participate at that time.
  • 2025 – Spokane County will ask voters to renew Aquifer Protection Area fees later this year for another 20 years. Spokane City Council will consider adopting a resolution agreeing to join the 2026-2045 Aquifer Protection Area period.