H2Olympia facts for kids
H2Olympia is a group of people in Olympia, Washington who care about clean water. They are a non-profit organization, which means they work to help the community, not to make money. Their main goal is to make sure everyone can always get water from a special underground source called an artesian well.
The artesian water in Olympia became famous because of the old Olympia Brewing Company. They used the slogan "It's the Water" on their beer cans and in their ads. This phrase showed how proud they were of the unique water from Olympia.
The Jefferson Street Well: A Community Treasure
The main artesian well that people can use today is at Artesian Commons. This spot is on the corner of Jefferson Street and 4th Avenue in Olympia. People can get water from it because of a special agreement. This agreement was made between the Thurston County PUD (Public Utility District), the City of Olympia, and the company that owns the land, Diamond Parking.
Keeping the Water Safe
The PUD is like a local water company. They are in charge of testing the well water regularly. This testing makes sure the water is safe to drink and meets all the rules for drinking water. The City of Olympia pays for these important tests.
However, this agreement is only for a short time. The land where the well is located is currently for sale. This means the community needs a more lasting plan to keep the well open to everyone.
How the Community Fought for Water Access
Before the current agreement, another group called "Friends of Artesians" paid for the water testing. They also tried to find a permanent way to keep the well open, but they couldn't reach that goal. Eventually, they stopped working as a group. They wrote an open letter to the City Council and the Mayor, which was printed in a local newspaper.
When "Friends of Artesians" disbanded, no one was paying for the water tests anymore. This meant that people might not be able to get water from the well.
A new group of citizens quickly formed. They called themselves "It's Still the Water." This group worked hard to make sure the public could still get water from the well. Their efforts helped create the temporary agreement that is in place today.
The members of "It's Still the Water" soon realized they needed a stronger plan. To work towards a permanent solution for the artesian well, they decided to become a non-profit organization. This new organization is what we now know as H2Olympia: Artesian Well Advocates. They continue to work for public access to this special water source.
