The History of Well Number 5
From Alderwood's rural past to Lynnwood's urban present
The Story of Well Number 5
More than sixty years ago, a drill bit pierced the earth on what would become 164th Street SW in Lynnwood, Washington. What emerged was far more than just another well—it was the beginning of a community legacy that continues to flow today. This is the remarkable story of how Well Number 5 became not just a source of pure water, but a gathering place that has touched thousands of lives across the Pacific Northwest.
The Drilling Begins
Well Number 5 was drilled to a depth of 400 feet, with casing installed to 120 feet to protect the water source. The well was engineered to tap into the rich Intercity Aquifer, accessing water that had been naturally filtered through geological layers for potentially hundreds or even thousands of years.
First Flow
The well began operating as part of a comprehensive water system designed to serve the growing Alderwood area. As one of ten artesian wells in the network, it provided pressurized water that rose naturally to the surface without need for pumping equipment—a testament to the remarkable geological conditions beneath this area.
System Transformation
As the region's population exploded, the original well system could no longer meet growing demand. Nine of the ten wells were disconnected and the water district transitioned to purchasing treated water from the city of Everett. However, Well Number 5 was preserved and converted to public use—a decision that would prove prescient for generations to come.
Word Spreads Quietly
During these decades, knowledge of the well spread primarily through word of mouth. Local families discovered the crisp, mineral-rich water and began making regular trips. The well community began to develop its characteristic culture of courtesy and self-governance that continues today.
Growing Recognition
As health consciousness grew and interest in natural, untreated water increased, the well began attracting visitors from across the region. Regular testing protocols were established, consistently showing water quality that met or exceeded all safety standards. The well had never failed a single test—a record that continues to this day.
Award-Winning Excellence
The well's exceptional quality was formally recognized when it placed second in the American Water Works Association's Pacific Northwest regional competition and took first place for Northwest Washington. In blind taste tests, the artesian water even outperformed the district's own treated tap water based on odor, flavor, and aftertaste.
Media Discovery
Television news coverage brought new attention to the well, introducing it to thousands of additional visitors. While longtime users worried about increased crowding, the coverage also helped establish the well as a legitimate community resource worthy of preservation and respect.
A Living Legacy
Well Number 5 now serves hundreds of visitors daily, flowing continuously at 10 gallons per minute. Maintained as a public service by the Alderwood Water & Wastewater District at an annual cost of approximately $25,000, it represents one of the region's most remarkable examples of a natural resource preserved for community benefit.
Technical Specifications
Well Construction
- Total Depth: 400 feet
- Casing Depth: 120 feet
- Aquifer Access: Intercity Aquifer at 200+ feet
- Water Column: Additional 200 feet below access point
- Construction Year: 1956
Flow Characteristics
- Flow Rate: 10 gallons per minute
- Spigots: Two simultaneous access points
- Pressure: Natural artesian pressure
- Operation: Continuous, 24/7/365
- Pumping Required: None (gravity and pressure fed)
Water Quality
- Treatment: None (naturally filtered)
- Filtration: Geological (sand, gravel, rock)
- Testing Frequency: Monthly bacterial, annual comprehensive
- Test Failures: Zero in 60+ years
- Regulatory Compliance: EPA drinking water standards
Access & Usage
- Public Access: Free, unrestricted
- Courtesy Limit: 20 gallons per visit
- Daily Visitors: Hundreds
- Parking Capacity: ~12 vehicles
- Maintenance: Alderwood Water & Wastewater District
Cultural & Community Impact
A Rare Preservation Success
Well Number 5 represents something increasingly rare in modern America: a natural resource that has been preserved for community benefit rather than commercial exploitation. While similar artesian wells across the country have been capped, privatized, or contaminated, this well continues to flow freely for anyone who seeks its water.
Self-Governing Community
Perhaps most remarkable is the culture that has evolved around the well. Without formal rules or enforcement, visitors have developed an unspoken code of conduct that governs usage. People form orderly lines, often allowing those with smaller containers to go ahead, and many regular visitors help newcomers understand the informal protocols.
Diverse Community
The well serves an extraordinarily diverse group of users: families seeking chemical-free water for their children, brewers and restaurant owners who prize the water's unique mineral profile, spiritual communities who value its natural purity, and health-conscious individuals who believe in the benefits of untreated water. This diversity has created a unique cross-section of Pacific Northwest culture.
Economic Considerations
The well's operation costs the Alderwood Water & Wastewater District approximately $25,000 annually, including maintenance, testing, grounds keeping, and gravel lot upkeep. This cost is absorbed by the district's rate payers as a community service, representing a collective investment in preserving access to this natural resource.
Historical Perspectives
"Some readers thought that I'd 'ruined a good thing' by revealing Well Number 5's location in print, but the 'secret' has been pretty much known for decades."
— Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist, 1998
Well Number 5 represents "a welcome touch of the country" reminiscent of Lynnwood's previously rural character, now become a "bland city".
— Community perspective from The Seattle Times, 2001