As another year draws towards a close, the season presents an opportunity to reflect back on what has certainly been an eventful twelve months at the District.

The first months of the year were marked by abnormally heavy and persistent rainfall. While the rainfall helps to replenish the District’s aquifers, and the higher snow pack in the mountains was beneficial to the regional supply of water, excess groundwater infiltrates the sewer system and puts a significant strain on the sewage pumping and treatment facilities. Fortunately, we were able to handle the higher flows and maintain permit requirements throughout the rainy periods.

In March, we concluded labor negotiations with the International Union of Operating Engineers, the labor union which represents the District’s field and plant operations personnel. Negotiations were protracted and, at times, contentious. Despite the difficulties, the labor contract we reached was fair to both sides and well worth the time and effort spent.

In April, Commissioner Dick Mayer announced that he was moving out of the area and would be resigning from the Board. Dick was a member of the Board for more than twelve years. During his tenure, he was very active in helping to raise money for the District’s Customer Assistance Program and made many other important contributions to the District.

As a result of the vacancy created by Dick’s departure, we solicited applications for the vacant Board position from interested ratepayers in May. The invitation produced a strong pool of applicants. After narrowing the group of ten qualified applicants to three, the Board selected Ron Nowicki for the vacant position. Ron brings a background of education and experience to the utility that will serve the Board well.

In August, Tom Jovanovich announced that he too was moving out of the area and would be resigning from the Board. Tom came to the District in 1997, shortly before I was appointed to the Board. He contributed greatly to our legislative program over the years and was a strong voice for the customer. Because we had so recently interviewed candidates for appointment to replace Dick Mayer, we asked one of the remaining candidates interviewed for the initial vacancy, Chuck Gibson, to join the Board. Chuck accepted and, with his experience in the fields of biology and environmental science, has already demonstrated that he will make important contributions to the Board.

The remainder of the year has been filled with our annual review of rates, fees and charges and our budget. You can be assured that we are very careful with your money and will continue to do whatever we can to keep your water and sewer rates as low as reasonably possible.

Best wishes for the Holidays!

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WELL 33 PROJECT
(Federal Way Deep Aquifer)

Earlier this spring a newsletter article was provided to our customers on the Well 33 Project located near Lakehaven Center. The initial stage of this project involves drilling an exploratory test well (Well 33T) to establish the depth (estimated at 1,100 feet deep) and production potential of the Federal Way Deep Aquifer at this general location. Since our previous article was written, the well drilling contractor experienced an unfortunate incident and was unable to extract part of the drilling equipment from the uncompleted test well. After weeks of failed attempts to remove the lost drilling equipment, the initial test well was abandoned. Provisions for these kinds of problems are included in the construction contract and a new replacement test well is currently being drilled about 10 feet from the abandoned well. The District is currently taking into consideration a couple of options for the abandoned well, including regulatory decommissioning of the well or use as a special observation well for the future OASIS Project. Although work continues on drilling a new test well, abandonment of the initial well has resulted in a temporary setback for completing this project by the end of September.

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REDONDO OUTFALL UPDATE

The District has been in the process for several years now to replace the outfall pipe that extends from the Redondo WWTP and discharges into Poverty Bay. The pipe was inspected and found to be near the end of its service life. The new pipe will also move the outfall approximately 800 feet further from the shore, to a water depth of approximately 400 feet. This extension will support the District’s commitment to preserving the water quality in Poverty Bay/Puget Sound. The process of design is 99% complete, and the project is currently undergoing the exhaustive permitting process. SEPA review has been completed and approved by City of Des Moines, and the permit application is now under review by the Army Corps of Engineers. Current projections are that replacement of the pipeline will occur in the summer of 2007.

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The Board of Commissioners appointed Charles Gibson to fill the seat vacated by Tom Jovanovich. Commissioner Jovanovich resigned at the end of August, after nearly nine years on the Board, to relocate to the Seattle area. With the appointment of Gibson, the Board returns to its full membership of five. Charles, a retired biologist for the Weyerhaeuser Company, brings a background of experience in the fields of wastewater and aquatic system management. Commissioner Gibson joins Ron Nowicki, appointed in July, as the newest members of the Board. Please join us in thanking Commissioner Jovanovich for his service on the Board and in welcoming Commissioners Nowicki and Gibson to the District!

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PNWCWA AWARD

District employee Melanie May was awarded the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association, Puget Sound Section, Water Quality Analyst of the Year Award for outstanding professional achievement. Melanie has the responsibility of supervising lab operations for the District. She is recognized, not only by Lakehaven Utility District, but by other treatment plants and outside governmental agencies, such as the Dept. of Ecology, as one of the top Lab Analysts in the State.

District employees Menanie May and DeAnna Windh

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CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE

In recognition that many in our community have extra needs during the holiday season, the District is placing a food donation barrel in the Customer Service area for the Multi-Service Center in November and December. Especially needed items include canned vegetables, canned fruits, dry beans, tuna, peanut butter, cereal, baby formula, baby food, and diapers. Please drop off your donations by 12/31/06.

Repair a dripping faucet by replacing the washer. Winterize your outdoor pipes by draining and removing all outside hoses. Wrap pipes that are exposed to the cold.

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WATER CONSERVATION ACTIVITY

Regular Board of Commissioners meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month.
These meetings are held at the Lakehaven Center at:

Lakehaven Center
31531 First Ave. S.
Federal Way at 6 p.m.