Greetings from the road!

This year has been a whirlwind of activity as I serve a year-long term as Governor of the Pacific Northwest District of Kiwanis International. As many of you know, Kiwanis is an international charitable organization that provides community-based assistance to those with special needs. The focal point for much of the charity work is the local Kiwanis club. I was elected Governor in May last year to a term that began in October and extends through the end of this September. The Pacific Northwest District includes 420 local Kiwanis clubs, with approximately 12,000 members, and covers Washington, Oregon, Northern Idaho, Northern California, Alaska, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. By the end of the term, I will have been on the road about 175 days and covered more than 20,000 miles, mostly in my car.

More than a few people have asked me why I undertook this endeavor in the first place. Having been a member of Kiwanis for 16 years and with some time available as a result of retirement a few years ago, I thought I might join in and lend a hand with the administrative side of the Kiwanis organization. Despite all the travel, it has been a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience, particularly as I have been fortunate enough to meet many of the younger participants in Kiwanis activities. The enthusiastic members of Kiwanis’ student organizations are the future leaders of charitable service in our communities. Based upon my observations, I think the future looks bright.

With a little juggling of my travel schedule and the understanding of fellow Board members and District staff, I have been able to maintain regular involvement with the water/sewer business. In addition to being a member of the Board of Commissioners, I am pleased to serve on the District’s Customer Assistance Program (CAP) Committee. The CAP, through the capable assistance of the South King County Multi-Service Center, provides financial aid to customers with limited means to help them meet the expenses of water and sewer service. The Committee develops, and carries out, fund raising activities that generate revenues for the CAP, which has been helping customers of the District for over a decade. If you have any extra money left over after paying your own bills, your donation to the CAP would be much appreciated. If you have any questions about the program, contact Linda Kochmar at 253-946-5446.

The headlines this spring have been filled with reports of impending water shortages throughout the region. The water supply we once took for granted is being stretched to its limits in many areas of the state. The District has invested heavily over the years in developing water supply sources and infrastructure that will meet the increasing demand for water predicted for the future. This planning, your conservation efforts and the good fortune of favorable geology have allowed us to generate a significant cushion between demand and supply. We always encourage you to “use water wisely”, but are not anticipating any mandatory water use restrictions this summer.

Thanks for the opportunity to serve you. Have a great summer!

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Water Supply Status

As of spring 2005, the water levels in our groundwater aquifer systems are generally lower than in past years. Our largest aquifer, known as the Redondo-Milton Channel Aquifer (RMC), is down about one foot from the previous year. Below normal winter precipitation rates combined with local water production rates has contributed to the slight decline. The District produced 11.1 million gallons per day (mgd) of groundwater in 2004 slightly less than the 11.4 mgd produced in 2003. Expecting normal spring rainfall and demand patterns, it is projected that the RMC aquifer will remain approximately one foot below last year’s levels as we approach the summer months.

During the summer months, the District expects to more heavily utilize water from its deeper aquifer sources, as it did last year. The Mirror Lake Aquifer is currently down about 15 feet as a result of last year’s production, while the Federal Way Deep Aquifer is currently about even with last year’s levels. Lakehaven will also 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 about 1 to 3 feet. With all the groundwater sources in use, the District’s supply will be capable of meeting normal summer demands.

As fall approaches, the City of Tacoma is expected to have the water treatment plant and pipeline portion of the Second Supply Project completed. This joint project between Tacoma, Kent, Covington and Lakehaven will be capable of providing winter water from the Green River to Lakehaven customers and allow the District to recover water levels in the local groundwater aquifers by reducing groundwater withdrawals. Customers will likely notice perceptible differences in the characteristics of their water when the District changes from groundwater to surface water. These perceptible differences will likely include possible color, taste, and odor changes, typical of surface water supplies and higher chlorine concentrations. In addition, the water will contain fluoride as a standard practice for Tacoma’s water system. Lakehaven will sample and monitor this new water on a daily basis to assure that our customers continue to receive the highest quality water.

The final phase of the Second Supply Project includes fish and environmental enhancements to allow additional water to be stored behind Howard Hanson Dam. The Howard Hanson Dam additional storage capacity will allow the project partners to store winter water behind the dam and have it available for summer demands in 2008 or possibly earlier, depending on state and federal resource agency approvals. This additional storage capacity from the project will help to mitigate the impacts of future drought events.

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Water Conservation Garden

Take time on a sunny afternoon to stroll through the District’s Waster Conservation Demonstration Garden located at French Lake Park, 31531 1st Avenue South, Federal Way, and learn about water conservation gardening.

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• Water lawns no more than 1 inch a week.
• For best absorption, water between the hours of 9:00p.m. and 10:00a.m.
• Water only the growing areas.
• Aerate the soil in spring and fall.
• Mow regularly, cutting no more than one-third of the grass height with each mowing.
• Remove thatch build-up over ½ inches.
• Use mulch to enrich the soil and retain water.