Before the city of Fairhaven gave up and joined Bellingham, the water supply had gotten so bad folks joked that there was “Food with every drink.” Now, after decades of official inaction to restrain development of the watershed, Bellinghamsters are getting the same.

Anyone with an aquarium knows that algal blooms occur suddenly, as if from nowhere. The experienced, however, know the causes and take preventative steps to avoid them. Too bad our governments aren’t as saavy toward our water supply. If you think the water tastes and smells bad now - oh, excuse me…“odd” - wait until it is enhanced with a thick blanket of algae full of dead fish swarmed with flies and crawling with maggots. That will add a whole new dimension.

See what’s happening to China’s third largest lake. It could happen here - literally overnight - and a few raingardens aren’t going to stop it.

- Tip Johnson