Water Rights: Why They Can’t Be Overlooked

On the Olympic Peninsula, water access is never guaranteed. Whenever I help a client with land or rural property, I pay close attention to water rights from the start. Wells, meters, watershed restrictions, and Department of Ecology requirements all determine whether a property will truly serve you long term.

I’ve worked with buyers who only found out after the fact—because they used an agent unfamiliar with the area—that they couldn’t drill a well or were subject to metering under the Dungeness Rule. Those are expensive surprises.

Because I live here, I already know where these issues come up and how to address them quickly. Local insight is critical when water is on the line.