I hope all enjoyed a safe and “sane” summer! While we are now turning the corner into fall, water consumption data collected by our meter reading staff confirms that the summer of 2004 was longer and warmer than normal. Fortunately, through planning and your conservation efforts, the supply of drinking water remains in good shape despite the continuing trend of longer, warmer summers and the resultant increase in water consumption.

As well as ushering out the warmer weather, fall brings a new agenda of activities to the District. One such item is an update of the comprehensive plan for the water system. For public water utilities, a comprehensive plan is a tool to guide the orderly development and maintenance of the water system. Through the plan, the District reviews items such as: the inventory of existing facilities; estimates of future water system demand and conservation requirements; technologies that can benefit conservation goals; treatment systems required by regulatory agencies and capital facility projects that allow us to expand the system to meet the needs of new customers and replace system components that have reached the end of their useful life.

Under Department of Health rules, public water purveyors must update water system plans every six years. The Board recently hired a consulting firm, Penhallegon and Associates, to assist with developing the required update of the District’s Comprehensive Water Plan. Once complete, the plan is required to be approved by each of the seven cities incorporated within the District’s water service area, the governing bodies of King and Pierce Counties and the Department of Health. We anticipate that a draft plan will be circulated to the agencies with jurisdiction for comment during the first part of next year. If all goes according to schedule, the final plan should be adopted and approved by the fall of 2005.

We are also beginning collective bargaining with the union representing the District’s treatment plant and field employees. The existing labor agreement between the District and the International Union of Operating Engineers, the exclusive bargaining representative for about sixty employees at the District, expires at the end of 2004. Negotiations typically focus on matters including wages and benefits, grievance procedures and the limits of union jurisdiction over District work. We are confident that representatives on both sides of the table will work diligently and cooperatively to produce a timely and mutually satisfactory contract.

September marks the beginning of our insurance year. The Board converted the District from a calendar year to a September- through-August year for insurance coverage in 2003. Through careful research of the market for insurance coverage and the maintenance of a conscientious risk management program, the District was able to procure higher levels of insurance coverage for the coming year without significant added cost.

Fall is also budget season at the District. With the capable assistance of Morgan Dennis, our Director of Finance and Information Systems, and input from other staff members, the Board will endeavor to build a biennial budget that will ensure the continuation of reliable service and the lowest rates possible.

Thanks for your interest and best wishes for the remainder of 2004!

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WATER CONSERVATION TIP

Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Although we still have a few days left on the 2004 calendar, the 2005 Legislative Session is just around the corner. On the recommendation of the Legislative Committee, the Board has retained lobbyist Phil Watkins for a third year to pursue legislation of interest to the District. The agenda for the upcoming session will focus on legislation to create a competitive marketplace for the retention of professional engineering consultant services and to respond to regulatory issues impacting the location of sewer treatment plant outfall lines.

We’ll have more for you on the specifics of our 2005 program in the next Newsletter!

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REDONDO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT 2003 NPDES COMPLIANCE AWARD

At the June 24, 2004 Board of Commissioners meeting, staff from the Redondo Wastewater Treatment Plant received an outstanding treatment plant award given by representatives from the Department of Ecology. This was for zero National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) permit violations for the year 2003. District management appreciates the team effort required to merit this type of award. Thanks and congratulations go to District staff, including plant operations, collection, maintenance, engineering, and administration.

This award signifies the pride of staff in an outstanding facility operation and represents their high level of concern in protecting the environment.

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EMERGENCY GENERATORS

In an effort to provide the highest standard of system reliability possible, the District has purchased a number of standby generators for placement at key sewer and water facilities. The generators will keep sewage pump stations operable and the supply of water flowing to customers for fire protection and domestic consumption during power outages and other public emergencies.

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WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN

The pictures to the right are of the District’s Water Conservation Garden. The garden is located in French Lake Park at 31531 First Avenue South, Federal Way, Washington and is open to the public. The garden demonstrates conservation landscaping that shows how to reduce the amount of water applied to landscape. It may take up to three years to transform landscape to a minimum of applied water, but with careful planting, it is quite possible to reduce or completely eliminate the need for added water above natural precipitation. Doing so will save time and money as well as help protect the environment. Staff applied Sterco compost to enhance the existing soil of the garden and also to act as a finish dressing for flower beds. Conservation gardening includes these seven basic principles: Plant in the fall. Prepare soils properly. Select climate friendly plants. Group plants by water needs. Use mulches. Irrigate efficiently. Maintain landscape and irrigation system. For best absorption, water lawns no more than one-inch per week and between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. Water only the growing areas, aerate the soil in the spring and fall, mow regularly, and remove thatch build-up in the lawn.

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KIDS CORNER – The Water Cycle at Work

Water never stops moving. Snow and rain fall to the earth from clouds. The rain and melted snow run downhill into rivers and lakes, sometimes crashing over waterfalls. Eventually the water flows into the ocean.

During evaporation, the water turns from liquid into gas, and moves from oceans and lakes into the atmosphere where it forms clouds.
Then the cycle begins all over again.

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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.