Never underestimate the will of a community—even a small one—to fight for local control of its water resources. Few places demonstrate this better than the tiny community of Orcas Highlands in Washington State.

For years, Orcas Highlands residents received their water through Rosario Utilities, a small, privately owned company. However, when Washington Water Services—a subsidiary of California Water Service Group, the largest investor–owned water utility in the West—purchased Rosario Utilities in September 2007 alarms went off for many residents.

In a single stroke, Washington Water Services acquired Rosario Utilities and secured a 60% increase in water rates. Orcas Island residents felt they did not have adequate input in the decision, and organizing through the Orcas Highlands, Rosario, and Vusario Homeowners Association they stepped up efforts to acquire local control of the utility.

In the fall of 2007 Orcas Highlands residents set about educating the community about value of local control by holding public meetings and screening of the film Thirst. Their goal was to gather enough petition signatures for a vote on annexing their private water utility to the publicly owned and operated Eastsound Sewer and Water District.

At a meeting in December 2007 the San Juan County Council approved the petition for a referendum vote on annexation, and on February 19 residents of Rosario, Vusario and Orcas Highlands communities approved the annexation.

The next step for residents of Orcas Island is to work with Eastsound Sewer and Water district to purchase the utility from Washington Water Services. If that fails, the community could pursue an eminent domain action to transfer the utility to public hands.