FERNDALE, Wash. – Residents of a small community north of Ferndale are feeling the effects of the drought emergency declared last month in Whatcom County.

Bakerview Water Association Treasurer Kevin Mayock said the troubles started on July 3rd, when their well ran dry.

“The aquifer level dropped below are pump, to the level of our existing pump and our existing well, and so it can’t pump out enough water to supply our 31 people and the dairy,” said Mayock. “So, that’s how it has affected us. It turns out we need water.”

He said their well has been reliable for the past 75 years and this is the first time it’s gone dry.

They have had to drill a new, deeper well and buy bulk water to meet their needs, which has been costly for the community.

“We have a number of retired people in our community, we have people that are on a disability, we have some lower-income people,” said Maycock. “So, it’s been a struggle. There are people who have taken loans out. And there are people who have tapped into their 401Ks.”

Mayock said he’s been unable to get help from state or local officials to ease the financial strain.

Harrison Lee with the Department of Ecology said Bakerview is a private water system, which makes them ineligible to receive emergency relief funding from Ecology.