The Jefferson Street Well/Diamond Parking Lot Spring, Olympia, WA

## Overview The Jefferson Street Well — sometimes called the Diamond Parking Lot Spring — is a publicly accessible artesian well located in the heart of downtown Olympia, Washington. While its setting in the middle of a city parking lot may look unassuming, this well taps into a deep artesian aquifer that has made Olympia famous for its naturally flowing groundwater. The city's very name is tied to its artesian heritage, and this well is one of the last remaining public access points to that underground resource. The water flows freely from a pipe installed in the parking lot, and visitors have long reported that it tastes exceptionally clean with a noticeable mineral character. According to local lore, the water from this well has been tested and found to have an estimated age of roughly one million years — a testament to the depth and isolation of the aquifer feeding it. Public access to the Jefferson Street Well exists thanks to a hard-won agreement between the Thurston County PUD, the City of Olympia, Diamond Parking, and the property owner. Under this arrangement, the PUD tests the water to ensure it conforms with drinking water guidelines, with the City of Olympia covering the cost of testing. However, this agreement has historically been described as temporary, and the property has been listed for sale, making the well's long-term future uncertain. The story of how this well remained open to the public is a tale of grassroots advocacy. A volunteer group called **Friends of Artesians** originally funded the human-consumption water testing that kept the well accessible. When that group disbanded, the testing question was left unresolved, threatening to shut down public access entirely. In response, a new citizen group called **"It's Still the Water"** formed to advocate for continued access, which led to the current agreement. That effort eventually evolved into a nonprofit organization known as **H2Olympia, Artesian Well Advocates**, which pursues the long-term goal of securing permanent public access to Olympia's artesian wells. More information about their work can be found at [h2olympia.org](http://www.h2olympia.org/). ## Directions 1. Head to the intersection of **4th Avenue East** and **Jefferson Street** in downtown Olympia, WA. 2. Look for the parking area associated with **The Manium** at approximately **421 4th Avenue East** (the listed address is 415 4th Ave E). 3. The well is a pipe installed in the middle of the **Diamond Parking lot** at this location. It's easy to miss if you're not looking for it — keep an eye out for a vertical pipe with flowing water, often with jugs or containers nearby left by locals filling up. 4. **GPS coordinates:** 47.044999, -122.8971866 ## What to Expect The Jefferson Street Well flows continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Water emerges from a pipe under natural artesian pressure — no pump is needed. The setting is decidedly urban: you'll be standing in a downtown parking lot, not a pastoral meadow. But don't let the surroundings fool you. The water has been historically tested under drinking water guidelines per the PUD agreement, and visitors consistently describe it as delicious with a distinct mineral taste. Bring your own containers to fill up. You'll likely encounter other locals doing the same — the well has a devoted following among Olympia residents who prefer the artesian water to municipal tap water. There is no formal infrastructure like a fountain or spigot housing; it's simply a pipe, so be prepared for a no-frills experience. Because the property has been subject to sale and the access agreement has been described as temporary, it's worth checking with local sources or the H2Olympia organization before making a special trip, especially if you're traveling from out of town. The advocacy community has worked hard to keep this well open, but its status could change. Olympia is home to several other artesian wells, and visiting the Jefferson Street Well can be a great starting point for exploring the city's unique artesian water heritage.