As the old saying goes, “a lot of water has gone over the dam” since I last had an opportunity to communicate with you through the Newsletter. From the perspective of a water and sewer utility, this familiar expression translates handily to the fact that in the nearly one year period since I authored a Commissioner Corner article, a large quantity of clean drinking water has been delivered to homes and businesses within our service area and a tremendous volume of wastewater has been processed for safe discharge to Puget Sound by the District.

Serving on the Board of Commissioners, as I have for these past five years, continues to be a rewarding experience. The five members of the Board collectively oversee the management of the utility by reviewing the operational proposals and plans of staff and by establishing policies that govern the general direction the utility takes from year to year. A good example of our role in policy direction is the setting of water and sewer rates, which occurs during the budget review process each fall.

A significant amount of the planning that goes into running the water and sewer utility involves maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. On the sewer side of the operation, we are currently planning a major rehabilitation of the Redondo Treatment Plant’s outfall line. The outfall, which was installed in the early 1960’s, is a 30-inch diameter pipe that carries the treated and disinfected wastewater effluent from the treatment plant to its point of discharge in Puget Sound, which is over a thousand feet from the shoreline. Nearing the end of its planned life, the condition of the outfall was inspected recently by consultants retained by the District. With confirmation that rehabilitation was needed and having an interest in cooperating with the Department of Health’s planned opening of local marine areas to the harvest of geoduck clams, we have determined to pursue the upgrade of our outfall facility. This is going to require that we “slipline” the existing pipe to prevent leaks and extend the point of discharge by 600-700 feet, which will cost upwards of two and a half million dollars. When complete, the discharge point will be 350 feet below the surface of the Sound and the improvements will ensure that the wastewater effluent will have no adverse impact on geoducks!

On the water side, we are currently wrapping up a program to control the corrosion potential of the water supply. As you probably know, water can be a source of corrosion in plumbing systems. Highly corrosive water can cause lead and copper to “leach” into the water we drink. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, public water suppliers are required to treat the water supply to inhibit corrosion. This is done primarily through the introduction of a sequestering agent into the water. Because the sequestering agent can produce nutrient growth in the water, chlorine must be added to retard the growth of microorganisms. We are happy to report that our corrosion control program is functioning well and the quality of your drinking water continues to exceed regulatory standards.

We also attend to the direction of administrative elements of the utility. Our Information Systems staff has recently presented proposals to upgrade our finance and accounting software systems in 2004. When installed, these upgrades will allow us to be more efficient in the administration of the finance and accounting functions and help us keep water and sewer rates as low as possible.

I encourage your interest in the operations of the District and our service and welcome your questions and comments!

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The 58th Legislature rewarded the District’s legislative efforts at the end of the 2004 Regular Session when it passed Substitute Senate Bill 6208. The bill, which passed both houses unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Locke on March 29th, allows special purpose water districts to collect the share of permanent facilities costs when allowing temporary connections to property owners wishing to connect to the water and/or sewer systems without building permanent local facilities. Under the new law, if construction of the permanent facilities does not occur within 15 years of the date of payment of the temporary connection, the money and accumulated interest will be returned to the owner of the property. The District believes this will create more equitable cost sharing on permanent facilities and allow more property owners to connect without bearing the full expense of construction of permanent facilities that benefit a local area. Thanks go to Senator Pam Roach, the bill’s prime sponsor.

Many thanks also go to Senator Tracy Eide and Representatives Mark Miloscia and Skip Priest for their help and support this year.

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STATUS OF LOCAL AQUIFERS

As of early 2004, the water level in our largest aquifer, known as the Redondo-Milton Channel Aquifer (RMC), has declined about two feet from the previous year. Although precipitation during the last three winter periods has been normal to above normal, higher water production from this aquifer source contributed to the decline. The District produced 11.4 million gallons per day (mgd) of groundwater in 2003 which exceeded the previous highest annual production total of 11.1 mgd in 2002. With lower than normal spring rainfall patterns expected, we project that the RMC aquifer will remain approximately two feet below last year’s levels as we approach the summer months.

The District has already begun increasing water production from its other deeper aquifer sources, as it did last year. The Mirror Lake Aquifer is down about 9 feet as a result of last year’s production, while the Federal Way Deep Aquifer is currently up about two feet from last year’s levels. Lakehaven will continue to use three small pocket aquifers that are part of the Eastern Upland Aquifers system located east of Interstate 5. Wells in this aquifer system will again be used to help offset usage from the RMC. From last year, the pocket aquifers are down to expected levels.

Lakehaven also maintains water connections with the City of Tacoma and can purchase water from the City to supplement our existing supplies if needed.

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CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER RETIRES

The first of May brought the retirement of the District’s Customer Services Manager, Shirley Hilton. After working for the District for over 27 years, most of which were in billing and customer service, Shirley has decided that the grass is greener when you have more time to play golf on it.

Shirley was honored by the Board of Commissioners for her many years of service to the District and its customers at the April 22nd Board meeting (picture above). Notes Shirley, “I have enjoyed my years at the District and the opportunity to work with many fine staff and board members. Customer service is about people, and I truly will miss the people most”.

Please join us in wishing Shirley a rewarding retirement.

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HYDRANT FLUSHING

Lakehaven Utility District is working to clean its entire water main system through a program called Systematic Flushing. District crews have been working in street intersections and at the end of cul-de-sacs opening and operating fire hydrants and blow-offs to create high water flows and velocities in the water system to scour and clean the inside of our water mains. Letters are mailed a week in advance notifying customers that main flushing/cleaning will commence in their area. The letters explain precautions and directions that should be taken during and after the flushing process. Signs are also placed in locations within the flushing neighborhood approximately 2 days in advance to notify customers of the exact date and area being flushed.

Water Operations employee, Paul Stoermer, is flushing the water main at a fire hydrant location. The flow diffusers attached to the fire hydrant are used to disperse water so no water damage is done. The diffusers are also filled with ascorbic acid tablets (Vitamin C) to remove the low amount of chlorinate maintained in our water distribution system as a disinfectant.

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WATER CONSERVATON ACTIVITY

The District will participate in the event listed below:

City of Federal Way’s
Red White & Blue Festival
Sunday, July 4, 2004
Children’s’ Activities, Live Music
(Begins at 4:00 PM)
FIREWORKS!
(Begins at 10:15PM)
Location: Celebration Park
1095 S. 324th Street
Federal Way, Washington

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Your Board of Commissioners

Dick Mayer - President

Ed Stewart - Vice President

Beverly J. Tweddle -  Secretary

Tom Jovanovich - Commissioner

Donald L. P. Miller - Commissioner

Regular Board of Commissioners meetings are held at:
Lakehaven Center
31531 First Ave. S.
Federal Way at 6 p.m.