City must protect our water supply

To the editor:

With our record rainfalls of the past few months, it is hard to think about possible water shortages for Bainbridge Island. But that is the reality as pointed out clearly by Melanie Keenan in her article of Nov. 18. As Ms. Keenan stated, this is not the first time that the issue of drawing down our island aquifers has been brought up to the various sitting councils, without any action taken for the protection of our six aquifers. We have cause for concern!

The rapid pace of development, seemingly unimpeded by the city council and NOT referenced currently in the proposed comprehensive plan, ignores the fact that our aquifers for drinking water cannot keep pace with the quest for business and residential expansion. Add to this the indiscriminate use of water by residents for their own purposes belies self-imposed conservation which, again, is also NOT being addressed by the city.

We implore the city council while undertaking review of the comprehensive plan to include the water element as outlined by Ms. Keenan in her article. She has both the knowledge and experience to save us from water shortages in the future. Development revenue must not supersede our water security.

BARBARA KOWALKSI

JENNY KOWALKSKI

Bainbridge Island