2007 WATER SYSTEM PLAN Public Utility District No

2007 WATER SYSTEM PLAN
Public Utility District No. 1 of Skagit County
Volume 1
Printed Date: July 9, 2008
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Volume 1
Introduction and Summary .................................................................................. 1-1
1.1
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1-1
1.2
Purpose and Scope ........................................................................................... 1-1
1.3
Summary .......................................................................................................... 1-2
1.4
Description of the Water System ..................................................................... 1-2
1.5
Basic Planning Data ......................................................................................... 1-3
1.6
System Analysis ............................................................................................... 1-3
1.7
Improvement Program ..................................................................................... 1-4
1.8
Financial Program ............................................................................................ 1-4
1.9
Water Use Efficiency Program ........................................................................ 1-4
1.10 Operation and Maintenance Program .............................................................. 1-5
1.11 Satellite System Program ................................................................................. 1-5
2
Description of Water System ................................................................................ 2-6
2.1
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 2-6
2.2
Ownership and Management ........................................................................... 2-6
2.3
System Background ....................................................................................... 2-10
2.4
Inventory of Existing Facilities ...................................................................... 2-12
2.4.1
Judy Reservoir System (PWSID 79500 E) ............................................ 2-12
2.4.2
Fidalgo Island System (PWSID 00932 Y) ............................................. 2-15
2.4.3
Remote Systems ..................................................................................... 2-15
2.5
Related Plans .................................................................................................. 2-17
2.6
Existing Service Area Characteristics ............................................................ 2-17
2.7
Future Service Area ....................................................................................... 2-20
2.8
Service Area Agreements .............................................................................. 2-20
2.9
Service Area Policies ..................................................................................... 2-21
2.10 Satellite Management Agencies ..................................................................... 2-21
2.11 Conditions of Service..................................................................................... 2-21
2.12 Complaints ..................................................................................................... 2-21
2.13 Service Area Consistency .............................................................................. 2-23
3
Planning Data and Water Demand Forecasting ............................................... 3-24
3.1
Current Population ......................................................................................... 3-24
3.1.1
Current Population Distribution ............................................................. 3-24
3.1.2
Current Customers ................................................................................. 3-25
3.1.3
Location and Customer Type ................................................................. 3-25
3.2
Current Water Demands ................................................................................ 3-26
3.2.1
Production .............................................................................................. 3-26
3.2.2
Demand Types ....................................................................................... 3-26
3.2.3
Demand by Location .............................................................................. 3-26
3.2.4
Equivalent Residential Units.................................................................. 3-28
3.2.5
Regional Water Demands ...................................................................... 3-29
3.3
Current Land Use ........................................................................................... 3-30
3.4
Forecasted Population .................................................................................... 3-30
3.4.1
Adopted GMA Projections .................................................................... 3-30
3.4.2
CWSP Projections.................................................................................. 3-32
1
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3.5
Forecasted Water Demands ........................................................................... 3-32
3.5.1
High Growth Scenario ........................................................................... 3-32
3.5.2
Intermediate Growth Scenario ............................................................... 3-33
3.5.3
Low Growth Scenario ............................................................................ 3-34
3.5.4
Effect of Conservation Measures ........................................................... 3-34
3.5.5
Discussion .............................................................................................. 3-35
3.6
Water Rights .................................................................................................. 3-35
3.6.1
Judy Reservoir System........................................................................... 3-35
3.6.2
Interties .................................................................................................. 3-41
3.6.3
Remote System Water Rights ................................................................ 3-42
3.7
System Capacity Analysis.............................................................................. 3-42
4
System Analysis .................................................................................................... 4-44
4.1
Design Standards ........................................................................................... 4-44
4.1.1
Fire Protection ........................................................................................ 4-44
4.2
Construction Standards .................................................................................. 4-46
4.3
Hydraulic Analysis......................................................................................... 4-46
4.3.1
Present Model ........................................................................................ 4-46
4.4
Description and Analysis by System and Area .............................................. 4-46
4.4.1
Sanitary Surveys .................................................................................... 4-46
4.4.2
Judy Reservoir Water System ................................................................ 4-47
4.4.3
Fidalgo Island Water System ................................................................. 4-79
4.4.4
Alger Water System ............................................................................... 4-85
4.4.5
Cedargrove Water System ..................................................................... 4-86
4.4.6
Marblemount Water System .................................................................. 4-87
4.4.7
Mountain View Water System ............................................................... 4-87
4.4.8
Potlatch Water System ........................................................................... 4-89
4.4.9
Rockport Water System ......................................................................... 4-90
4.4.10
Skagit View Village Water System ....................................................... 4-91
4.5
Water Quality Analysis System and Area ..................................................... 4-92
4.5.1
Judy Reservoir Water System ................................................................ 4-92
4.5.2
Fidalgo Island Water System ................................................................. 4-93
4.5.3
Remote Water Systems .......................................................................... 4-94
4.6
System Deficiencies ....................................................................................... 4-95
4.6.1
Seismic Vulnerability............................................................................. 4-95
4.6.2
Low Pressure.......................................................................................... 4-96
4.6.3
Storage ................................................................................................... 4-96
4.6.4
Material Fatigue ..................................................................................... 4-96
4.6.5
Flow Velocity......................................................................................... 4-97
5
Improvement Program ........................................................................................ 5-98
5.1
Improvement Criteria ..................................................................................... 5-98
5.2
Replacement Program .................................................................................... 5-98
5.3
New Construction ........................................................................................ 5-100
5.4
Identification of Improvements.................................................................... 5-100
5.4.1
Judy Reservoir System Improvements................................................. 5-100
5.4.2
Fidalgo Island System Improvements.................................................. 5-102
5.4.3
Remote System Improvements ............................................................ 5-102
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6
Conservation Program ...................................................................................... 6-113
6.1
Water Conservation Program ....................................................................... 6-113
6.1.1
Water Use Efficiency ........................................................................... 6-114
6.2
Evaluation of water use efficiency Measures .............................................. 6-114
6.2.1
Public Education Program ................................................................... 6-114
6.2.2
Technical Assistance ............................................................................ 6-115
6.2.3
System Measures ................................................................................. 6-115
6.2.4
Incentives/Other Measures................................................................... 6-119
6.3
Water Use Efficiency Alternatives .............................................................. 6-122
6.3.1
Mainline Meter Rehabilitation/Replacement Program ........................ 6-122
6.3.2
Water Audit .......................................................................................... 6-122
6.3.3
Meter Accuracy Check/Transmission Line Leak Detection ................ 6-123
6.3.4
Selected Water Use Efficiency Activities ............................................ 6-123
7
Source Water Protection ................................................................................... 7-124
7.1
Cultus Mountain Raw Water Diversions ..................................................... 7-124
7.2
Skagit River Watershed Protection Plan ...................................................... 7-124
7.3
Remote Systems Wellhead protection ......................................................... 7-124
8
Operation and Maintenance Program ............................................................. 8-127
8.1
Routine Operation Procedures ..................................................................... 8-127
8.1.1
Staffing and Operator Certification ..................................................... 8-127
8.1.2
Water Treatment Facilities ................................................................... 8-130
8.1.3
Pump Stations ...................................................................................... 8-137
8.1.4
Reservoirs ............................................................................................ 8-137
8.1.5
Meters and Utility Billing .................................................................... 8-138
8.1.6
SCADA and Telemetry Systems ......................................................... 8-139
8.2
Preventative Maintenance ............................................................................ 8-139
8.2.1
Reservoirs ............................................................................................ 8-139
8.2.2
Pumps ................................................................................................... 8-140
8.2.3
Valves .................................................................................................. 8-140
8.2.4
Equipment ............................................................................................ 8-140
8.3
Water Quality Analysis Operations ............................................................. 8-142
8.3.1
Background .......................................................................................... 8-142
8.3.2
Sampling Procedures ........................................................................... 8-142
8.3.3
Operator Certification .......................................................................... 8-144
8.3.4
Cross-Connection Control Program..................................................... 8-144
8.4
Emergency Response ................................................................................... 8-145
8.4.1
General ................................................................................................. 8-145
8.4.2
Command, Control and Communication ............................................. 8-145
8.4.3
Emergency Preparation and Response ................................................. 8-148
8.5
System Vulnerability ................................................................................... 8-153
9
Financial Program ............................................................................................. 9-154
9.1
General ......................................................................................................... 9-154
9.2
Existing Revenue ......................................................................................... 9-154
9.2.1
Revenue from Water Rates .................................................................. 9-154
9.2.2
Revenue from General Facilities Charges ........................................... 9-156
9.3
Cost of Improvements .................................................................................. 9-156
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9.4
Annual Operation and Maintenance Expenses ............................................ 9-156
9.5
Projected Revenue Requirements ................................................................ 9-157
9.6
Water Rate Adjustments .............................................................................. 9-159
9.7
Revenue Plan ............................................................................................... 9-159
10 Satellite System Program ................................................................................ 10-160
10.1 Authority .................................................................................................... 10-160
10.2 Satellite System Program Services ............................................................ 10-160
10.2.1
Ownership Service ............................................................................. 10-164
10.2.2
Management and Operation Service .................................................. 10-170
10.2.3
Contract Service ................................................................................. 10-171
10.2.4
Support Assistance Service ................................................................ 10-171
Appendix A – Water Facility Inventories .......................................................................A
Appendix B – CWSP Water Service Area Agreement .................................................. B
Appendix C – Joint Operating Agreement with City of Anacortes .............................C
Appendix D – District Water Code .................................................................................D
Appendix E – Land Use Maps ......................................................................................... E
Appendix F – Consistency Determinations .................................................................... F
Appendix G – Water Rights ............................................................................................ G
Appendix H – Emergency Response Plan...................................................................... H
Appendix I – Physical Capacity Analyses........................................................................ I
Appendix J – Watershed Control Plans – and Wellhead Protection Plans ................. J
Appendix K – Consumer Confidence Reports .............................................................. K
Appendix L – SEPA Determination ................................................................................ L
Appendix M – Water Quality Testing............................................................................ M
Appendix N – Sanitary Surveys .......................................................................................N
Appendix O – Conservation Materials .......................................................................... O
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1 Introduction and Summary
1.1 Introduction
Public Utility District No. 1 of Skagit County (District) is a municipal corporation of the
State of Washington, established at the general election of November 3, 1936 to
conserve the water and power resources of the state for the benefit of the people and to
supply public utility service per RCW 54. The District is authorized to acquire, construct
and operate water systems within and without the county boundaries and to furnish water
service to the inhabitants of the District and other persons.
The District operates the most expansive water system in Skagit County with over 22,400
metered services, serving approximately 65,000 people an average of 9 million-gallons of
water per day. Population growth and development in the western one-third of Skagit
County have been steady over the past twenty years, and requests for waterline
extensions and additional services are being received regularly.
The majority of the District's services are within the Judy Reservoir System which serves
the Cities of Burlington, Mount Vernon and Sedro-Woolley as well as surrounding rural
and suburban areas. The District also operates remote water systems including: Fidalgo
Island, Alger, Cedargrove, Marblemount, Mountain View, Potlatch Beach, Rockport, and
Skagit View Village.
District facilities include almost 600 miles of pipe, and over 31-million gallons of storage
volume.
1.2 Purpose and Scope
A Water System Plan (WSP) is required under WAC 246-290 and is overseen by the
Washington Department of Health (DOH). An expanding community system, such as the
District, is required to submit a WSP (on a six year schedule) for review and approval.
The purpose of a WSP is to demonstrate the system’s operational, technical, managerial
and financial capability, and demonstrate how the system will address present and future
needs, per the requirements of the 1996 amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water
Act (SDWA). Further, the WSP establishes eligibility for funding pursuant to the
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
With the passage of the Municipal Water Supply - Efficiency Requirements Act, Chapter
5, Laws of 2003 (Municipal Water Law) the WSP must also demonstrate consistency
with local land use planning, and reflect compliance with water conservation rules.
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This Plan will address the following elements for a period of twenty years into the future:
Section
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Title
Description of Water System
Planning Data
System Analysis
Improvement Program
Conservation Program & Water Use Efficiency
Source Water Protection
Operation and Maintenance Program
Financial Program
Satellite System Program
The primary consideration in developing this long-range plan is the District’s
responsibility to the people within its service area “to provide an adequate supply of
good quality water at the lowest possible cost for the present and reasonably foreseeable
future needs of all the communities in and tributary to Skagit County for domestic use,
and to facilitate industrial development and growth, not only because the District is the
only public agency endowed with the necessary legal powers and authority to assume
responsibility on a County-wide basis, but also because the District enjoys the necessary
credit rating to provide the most advantageous financing and, further, because the longrange water supply by individual communities cannot be as economically developed as
can a comprehensive supply for the entire populated areas of the County” [taken from
District Resolution #383, “Basic Water Policy”]. The District also has moral
responsibilities to protect natural resources and honor federally-reserved Treaty rights.
The fundamental purpose of this report is to provide such a long-range plan, thus
providing the basic elements necessary to most effectively carry out these
responsibilities.
1.3 Summary
The Skagit Board of County Commissioners declared Skagit County a Critical Water
Supply Service Area (CWSSA) in 1990. The Washington State Department of Health
(DOH), Skagit County, the City of Anacortes and the District jointly funded a
Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP) Regional Supplement in 1993, updated in 2000.
The County Commissioners found the 2000 CWSP to be ‘not inconsistent with land use
planning’ in March 2000 and adopted the 2000 CWSP into their Comprehensive Plan as
part of the 2000 Comprehensive Plan amendments; that CWSP Regional Supplement was
approved by DOH in July 2000. Some data collected for the 2000 CWSP was used in the
preparation of this Water System Plan.
1.4 Description of the Water System
Of the 150 public water systems in Skagit County, the District’s Judy Reservoir system
ranks as the most important by virtue of the large number of customers served and its role
as the County-wide Satellite Management Agency; only the City of Anacortes’ system
produces more water, wholesaling much of it to local industries and municipalities. The
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balance of the public water systems obtain supplies from individual sources and/or by
purchasing from one of these two major systems. The District is a municipal corporation
of the State, governed under RCW Title 54 by its own three elected commissioners. The
General Manager and the District’s staff execute the policies set by the District’s
Commissioners. The administration and operations of the District are funded by water
revenues from the District’s customers, augmented by fees paid for impacts on the system
and occasional grants from outside agencies.
In 1939, the District bought three water systems serving Burlington, Mount Vernon and
Sedro-Woolley from the Peoples’ Water And Gas Company, forming the basis for the
District’s present system. The sources for the original system were the southern Cultus
Mountain streams and the Skagit River, and the system included approximately 50 miles
of water mains, four million gallons of storage and 3,000 water services. The Cultus
Mountain streams are now the District’s principle source of supply and the system has
grown through other acquisitions, improvements and outside development to near 600
miles of pipeline and over 31 million gallons of storage. The District now also owns and
operates one water system on Fidalgo Island, one water system on Guemes Island, north
of Anacortes, one water system north of Burlington, one water system just east of Mount
Vernon, and three water systems farther east along the Skagit River. All new water lines
are of the highest quality and installed to strict specifications, and all District services are
metered.
1.5 Basic Planning Data
The population of Skagit County was an estimated 113,100 as of the 2006 Office of
Finacial Management count. The District serves around 65,000 persons within Skagit
County, or around 57% of the total population. The District serves its customers 2,900
million gallons annual demand. Non-revenue water (fire flow, allowable leakage,
unaccounted-for, etc.) has been under 10 percent (12-month average) for the past 3-years.
This is ahead of the District’s goal to reduce it to 11 percent by the year 2010.
Population projections used for the CWSP and County / City Comprehensive Plans
indicate Skagit County may grow to a total of 149,080 to 198,075 by 2025. Providing
water resources to accommodate this growth will require a cooperative effort by the
District, the City of Anacortes, local Tribes and State and federal agencies.
Section 3 indicates that the District has adequate water rights to support its projected
growth for the 20-year planning period addressed by this Plan.
1.6 System Analysis
District infrastructure is recorded on maps and in individual project files in the District’s
office. The District has certificated water rights to 23,417 acre-feet of source water per
year, and owns and operates a water treatment plant undergoing expansion to 30 million
gallon per day (mgd) peak production, over 600 miles of water mains ranging from 3/4inch to 48-inch in diameter, over 22,400 metered water services and over 31 million
gallons of potable water storage capacity. Since the start-up of the District’s treatment
plant in March 1990, the District’s finished water has exceeded all local, State and federal
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drinking water standards. The majority of the system is strong, and all documented weak
portions have been prioritized for replacement.
The District has developed a strong set of design and construction standards, which the
District requires be followed by outside agencies as well as District employees.
1.7 Improvement Program
The District has identified weaknesses in its systems, and schedules improvements on a
prioritized basis. All replacements and new construction are designed and installed per
District standards. This section of the Plan identifies specific improvements and
projected costs and revenue sources.
1.8 Financial Program
The District gets nearly all its operating revenues from water rates and has historically
maintained a uniform schedule of rates for all its customers, regardless of water system or
area. The District’s rates are based on a “cost of service” water rate study by HDR, Inc.
The District has maintained separate meter and consumption charges, and inclining block
rate schedule for residential services and a relatively flat schedule for non-residential
service. The District also revised its schedule of General Facilities Charges (System
Development Fees) to account for system treatment capacity increases based on the
capacity a new water service requires.
1.9 Water Use Efficiency Program
The District’s Water Use Efficiency Plan includes all required elements outlined in the
Conservation Planning Manual. The District:
a) on request provides public education through school outreach, a speakers
bureau, handouts, and interface with local news media;
b) provides technical assistance through administrative assistance to its two
wholesale customers, leak detection assistance to retail customers, and
consumption history on utility bills;
c) has implemented system measures through installation and maintenance of
source meters on all its water systems, consumption meters on all customer
services, and leak detection program which has reduced unaccounted-for water
from 26.59 percent in 1990 to less than 10 percent in 2006; and
d) provides incentives for water conservation through information on single and
multifamily conservation, retrofit kits, and on water saving potential for
commercial and residential irrigation demands, has increased its water rates, and
promotes recycling and reuse of water. Various water conservation alternatives
are reviewed.
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1.10 Operation and Maintenance Program
The District is staffed, organized, and trained to handle all routine and emergency
operations of the District’s water systems. The District meets and exceeds State
requirements for mandatory water works certification. The Judy Reservoir Water
Treatment Plant is semi-automated to allow unattended operation, although operators are
on site 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The operators and automated control systems
regularly log process and production information. The control system is being expanded
to provide monitoring, control, data logging, and alarm indication from remote SCADA
stations. WTP shutdown and startup procedures are outlined, as well as the Alger,
Cedargrove, Mountain View and Potlatch treatment systems. The District monitors its
pump stations and storage reservoirs regularly, and schedules maintenance as required by
operating and aesthetic conditions. All District services are metered, and all meters are
read regularly. Utility billing services are performed in-house. Telemetry alarm systems
use telephone autodialers to notify District personnel 24 hours per day of intrusion or
system failures at selected remote and critical booster pump stations and reservoirs. The
District is transitioning from telephone telemetry, which only offers monitoring of alarm
conditions, to SCADA, which offers control and correction of system operational issues
from a remote location. The District has established a framework for preventive
maintenance of District reservoirs, pumps, valves, construction equipment and vehicles.
The District currently meets or exceeds all State and federal water quality requirements.
District personnel follow established sampling procedures to ensure all samples reflect
actual conditions.
The District has also established procedures for response to specific emergencies,
including water supply shortage, system failures, or operational upsets. Causes for such
emergencies may include earthquakes, electrical storms, flooding, volcanic or nuclear
activity, power outages, sabotage, material failure or human error. The District is aware
of weaknesses in its systems and is able to respond to any single emergency. Multiple
concurrent emergencies or combinations of causes will tax District assets. The District
will return complete service to areas based on priorities set by District management in
cooperation with other local governments.
1.11 Satellite System Program
The District functions as the primary Satellite Management Agency (SMA) for Skagit
County per the CWSP. This Section outlines program services available, through
Ownership, Management and Operation, Contract Service or Support Assistance
elements. Criteria are defined for both permanent stand-alone and temporary stand-alone
systems.
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2 Description of Water System
2.1 Introduction
Skagit County is located in the northwestern part of Washington State and stretches from
Puget Sound to the crest of the Cascade Mountains. Also included are leeward islands of
the San Juan Archipelago, together with the Skagit River delta and flood plain. The
eastern two-thirds of Skagit County are dominated by the northern Cascade Mountains
which include Mount Baker, portions of North Cascade National Park, and Mount Baker
National Forest. Mount Vernon is the largest city in Skagit County and the county seat.
Other significant municipalities include Anacortes, Burlington, Concrete, Hamilton,
LaConner, Lyman and Sedro-Woolley.
See Figure 2.1 – Skagit County General Vicinity.
As described in the following, the District operates the most expansive water system in
the County with a total of over 22,400 installed services. The majority of the District’s
services are within the Judy Reservoir System (PWSID 79500E) which serves the Cities
of Burlington, Mount Vernon and Sedro-Woolley and surrounding rural and suburban
areas. The District also operates remote water systems including:
 Fidalgo Island (PWSID 00932 Y)
 Alger (PWSID 01400 K)
 Cedargrove (PWSID 11917 4)
 Marblemount (PWSID AA642 )
 Mountain View (PWSID 03774 Y)
 Potlatch Beach (PWSID 69034 L)
 Rockport (PWSID 73600 6)
 Skagit View Village (PWSID 96879 5).
See Figure 2.2 – District Water Systems.
2.2 Ownership and Management
The responsibilities and powers of the District are exercised through a Commission of
three members, elected by the voters, having six-year terms expiring in rotation, so that
one Commissioner is elected every two years. The Board of Commissioners, as
authorized by law, employs a General Manager, a Treasurer, an Auditor, counsel and
such other officials and special services as may be required to conduct the affairs of the
District. The General Manager, Auditor and counsel are all independent entities
employed by the Commission working for the unified good of the District. There is no
legal linkage between the District and the County government of Skagit County, though
there is a cooperative working relationship.
The General Manager is the chief administrative officer of the District and, assisted by
the Treasurer, Auditor, counsel and administrative and operations staff, carries out the
2-6
policies set by the Board of Commissioners and all other duties as set forth in RCW
54.16.100. To cover the possibility of the absence or temporary disability of the General
Manager, the General Manager has, with the approval of the Commission, designated a
competent employee as Assistant Manager.
2-7
2-8
2-9
2.3 System Background
Public Utility District No. 1 of Skagit County is a municipal corporation of the State of
Washington, established at the general election of November 3, 1936. The organization
meeting of the Commissioners of the District was held January 16, 1937. Since the
District’s organization, the Commissioners have observed regular meeting dates and, in
addition, have held special meetings as circumstances dictated. Proceedings of each
meeting of the Commission are recorded in an official minute book.
Although organized early in 1937, the District did not engage in the utility business until
November 4, 1939 when it purchased by friendly condemnation the water systems in the
Cities of Mount Vernon, Burlington and Sedro-Woolley from the Peoples Water and Gas
Company for the sum of $300,070. The water systems totaled 3,134 water services, 51.5
-miles of pipeline, 3,940,000 gallons of distribution storage, 1.75 million-gallons-per-day
(MGD) in treatment facilities, and diversions on the Skagit River, local springs, and five
creeks in the Cultus Mountains (East Fork Nookachamps, Rock Springs, Pigeon, Mundt
and Turner Creeks).
On March 7, 1940, the District purchased the Clear Lake Water Corporation for
$8,330.29, complete with 180 water services, 11.5-miles of pipeline, 500,000 gallons of
distribution storage, and diversions on three Cultus Mountain streams (Gilligan, Salmon
and Turner Creeks).
On July 1, 1940, the District purchased 1.8-miles of water line from the Avon Mutual
Water System for $2,650.00.
In 1940, the District commenced to integrate the entire system by laying a wood stave
transmission line from Sedro-Woolley to Burlington and Mount Vernon; this line was
completed that same year through support of the Works Progress Administration. The
further development of the District’s Judy Reservoir, Fidalgo Island and remote systems
is chronicled as follows:
1947
1954
1956
1958
1958
1960
Completed construction of impoundment dams in Janicki Basin, forming Judy
Reservoir, capacity 450 million gallons, spillway at 435’ AMSL.
Completed construction of a new Ranney well next to the Skagit River in
northwest Mount Vernon.
Acquired/constructed the District’s Fidalgo Island water system at Similk Beach
through Local Utility District (LUD) No. 2.
Completed new overhead Skagit River pipeline crossing south of Sedro-Woolley,
replacing failed 1951 submarine crossing.
Replaced Gilligan and Salmon Creek diversions/pipeline to increase supply to
Judy Reservoir.
Extended Judy Reservoir system to Bayview through LUD No. 4.
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1961
1961
1962
1965
1967
1970
1977
1984
1990
1991
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2000
2001
Expanded Fidalgo Island system to the Gibralter and Dewey Beach areas through
LUD No. 5.
Installed concrete cylinder pipe transmission line connecting Judy Reservoir to
Mount Vernon.
Acquired the Conway Water Company and connected it to the Judy Reservoir
System.
Raised Judy Reservoir from elevation 435’ above mean sea level (AMSL) to 451’
AMSL, increasing its impoundment capacity from 450 million gallons to 1,010
million gallons.
Completed the transmission line loop with the installation of concrete cylinder
pipe between Burlington and Mount Vernon.
Replaced the wood stave transmission line between Judy Reservoir and the SedroWoolley Skagit River crossing with concrete cylinder pipe.
Installed a concrete cylinder pipe transmission line parallel to the wood stave
distribution line between Sedro-Woolley and Burlington.
Transferred service from the wood stave line to the concrete-cylinder transmission
line between Burlington and Sedro-Woolley.
Completed and put on line the District’s multi-media direct filtration water
treatment plant at Judy Reservoir to serve the Judy Reservoir system.
Acquired and reconstructed the remote public water system at Rockport through
LUD No. 11.
Extended the Judy Reservoir system toward Big Lake along Gunderson Road
through LUD No. 12.
Acquired and reconstructed the satellite public water system at Cedargrove On
The Skagit through LUD No. 10.
Extended the Judy Reservoir system around Big Lake through LUD No. 16 and to
Lake 16 through LUD No. 18.
Extended the Judy Reservoir system south of Mount Vernon around Britt Slough
through LUD No. 17.
Extended the Judy Reservoir system to the Hoogdal area north of Sedro-Woolley
through LUD No. 19.
Signed the Memorandum of Agreement Regarding Utilization of Skagit River
Basin Water Resources for Instream and Out Of Stream Purposes (MOA)
Extended the Judy Reservoir system north of Judy Reservoir to the Panorama area
through LUD No. 20.
Extended the Judy Reservoir system to Big Rock through LUD No. 21.
Acquired and provided a reverse osmosis water source to an existing satellite
public water system on Guemes Island through LUD No. 23
Acquired and reconstructed a satellite public water system in the Alger area
through LUD Nos. 22 and 24.
Extended the Judy Reservoir system south of Mount Vernon to the Stackpole
Road area through LUD No. 25.
Completed enlargement of Judy Reservoir, increasing its impoundment capacity
from 1.01 billion to 1.45 billion gallons.
Sewer Authority granted to the District through a ballot measure
2-11
2004
2006
2006
2007
2007
Acquired and reconstructed a satellite public water system named Skagit View
Village through LUD No. 27.
Constructed a satellite public water system serving Marblemount through LUD
No. 28
Extended the Judy Reservoir System north of the community of Bayview through
North Bayview LUD No. 29
Substantially revised the raw water capacity and source through the Skagit River
Diversion Pump Station and pipeline to Judy Reservoir.
Furthered the geographical distribution, capacity and reliability of the
transmission pipelines through installation of a gravity feed transmission pipeline
on Cook Road.
2.4 Inventory of Existing Facilities
This Water System Plan covers the many distinct water systems owned and operated by
the District (as seen in Figure 2.2). The following briefly describes and inventories each
system. The most current Water Facility Inventory report forms may be found in
Appendix A – Water Facility Inventories.
2.4.1 Judy Reservoir System (PWSID 79500 E)
2.4.1.1 Service Area
The Judy Reservoir system (Public Water System ID # 79500 E) has a retail service area
including the City’s of Mount Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro-Woolley; as well as
surrounding communities including Bow Hill, Bayview, Fir Island, Conway, Big Lake,
and Clear Lake. See Figure 2.3 – Judy System Map.
2.4.1.2 Source
The Cultus Mountain Watershed has historically been the principal source of supply for
the District’s Judy Reservoir system. Water is diverted from four creeks (Gilligan,
Salmon, Turner and Mundt), and piped to Judy Reservoir, a 1.45 Billion Gallon
impoundment reservoir. The raw water collection system for Judy Reservoir (including
legal description of the Cultus Mountain watersheds) is shown in Section 7. A new pump
station and pipeline from the Skagit River to Judy Reservoir provides a more reliable,
alternative source of supply.
2.4.1.3 Treatment
Until 1990, raw water impounded in Judy Reservoir was disinfected and delivered
unfiltered, directly from Judy Reservoir to the distribution system through transmission
pipelines. In March 1990, the District’s new multi-media direct filtration water treatment
plant (WTP) was placed in service adjacent to Judy Reservoir. Water from Judy
Reservoir is treated at the District’s WTP and served by gravity through transmission
lines to the District’s customers. The WTP capacity is being increased to 30 MGD in
2006-2008 through addition of new filters, and a third clearwell.
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2.4.1.4 Distribution System
The Judy Reservoir system currently includes over 595 miles of water mains and 31
million gallons of distribution storage capacity. About 40 percent of the mains are iron
pipe, about 30 percent are plastic, and about 25 percent are asbestos cement. Most of the
lines 3-inch and under are plastic, and over 84 percent of the mains predate 1995. A
more complete inventory is provided in Section 5. The system is well maintained and has
proven very reliable. New and replacement lines are installed according to current
District standards (See Section 4, Minimum Design Standards).
2-13
2-14
2.4.2 Fidalgo Island System (PWSID 00932 Y)
The District began service on Fidalgo Island in 1956 after wells in the area began to
produce water of unsatisfactory quality. The Fidalgo Island system now serves the
communities of Gibralter, Similk Beach, and Dewey Beach. Though originally supplied
by the District’s two Whitmarsh wells south of March Point near the Swinomish Slough,
the system is now served through interties with the City of Anacortes water system at
Saterlee Road, Thompson Road, and Sharpe’s Corner. The District’s service area on
Fidalgo Island is defined by the Service Area Agreement from the CWSP (see Appendix
B).
The Fidalgo Island system includes over 17 miles of water mains and 800,000 gallons of
distribution storage capacity. While the District has constructed major high capacity
distribution improvements since 1994, the majority of the mains are less than 6-inch
diameter and most of the lines 3-inch and under are plastic; about 50 percent of the mains
are asbestos cement and predate 1970. The system is well maintained and provides
reliable domestic service. Some lines are undersized for fire flow capacity, though fire
flow is not a requirement everywhere in this rural service area. New and replacement
lines are installed according to current District standards. See Section 4, Minimum
Design Standards.
2.4.3 Remote Systems
The District presently owns and operates seven remote public water systems: one in the
Puget Sound on Guemes Island, one north of Burlington in Alger, four east of SedroWoolley up the Skagit River Valley at Skagit View Village, Cedargrove, Rockport and
Marblemount and one on Mountain View Road just east of the Mount Vernon city limits
(see Figure 2.2). Each has its own individual source of water. All were existing public
water systems having problems meeting drinking water regulations. At the request of
residents, the District offered assistance and, through the Local Utility District process
(RCW 54.16), rebuilt each system (excepting Mountain View) to state and federal
drinking water and District hydraulic standards. The Mountain View water system was
accepted by the District at the system developer’s request and at the urging of DOH and
the Skagit County Health Department.
The systems are well maintained and have proven very reliable. They are analyzed in
greater detail in Section 4. New and replacement lines are installed according to current
District standards. See Section 4, Minimum Design Standards
2.4.3.1 Potlatch Beach (Public Water System ID No. 69034L)
The Potlatch Beach water system on Guemes Island includes one mile of 2 and 4-inch
plastic water mains and has 30,000 gallons of distribution storage capacity. The system
was experiencing saltwater intrusion in its groundwater well prior to District ownership,
so the District replaced the source with a new reverse osmosis water treatment system,
supplying the water system with desalinated water from Guemes Channel in the Puget
2-15
Sound. The system has capacity for up to 182 ERU’s according to physical capacity
determinations included in Appendix I. The District accepted ownership of the system in
1998.
2.4.3.2 Alger (Public Water System ID No. 01400K)
The Alger system includes a groundwater well, a manganese filtration system, 4.9 miles
of 4-inch, 6-inch, 8-inch, 12-inch and 16-inch water mains and 132,000 gallons of
distribution storage capacity. The system has capacity for up to 219 ERU’s according to
physical capacity determinations included in Appendix I. The District accepted
ownership of the system in 1999.
2.4.3.3 Rockport (Public Water System ID No. 736006)
The Rockport system includes a groundwater well, 2.7 miles of 4-inch, 6-inch and 8-inch
water mains and 60,000 gallons of distribution storage capacity. The system has capacity
for up to 138 ERU’s according to physical capacity determinations included in Appendix
I. The District accepted ownership of the system in 1991.
2.4.3.4 Cedargrove (Public Water System ID No. 119174)
The Cedargrove system includes a groundwater well, an iron and manganese filtration
system, 2.9 miles of 4-inch, 6-inch, 8-inch and 10-inch ductile iron water mains and
270,000 gallons of distribution storage capacity. . The system has capacity for up to 466
ERU’s according to physical capacity determinations included in Appendix I. The
District accepted ownership of the system in 1992.
2.4.3.5 Mountain View (Public Water System ID No. 03744Y)
The Mountain View system is designed for a maximum of 16 connections, but has no
storage at this time. The system can serve up to 14 connections before standby storage is
required. The District accepted the system in 1993 with the understanding that it would
be incorporated into the Judy Reservoir system at some future date.
2.4.3.6 Skagit View Village (Public Water System ID No. 96879 5)
The Skagit View Village system includes a groundwater well, aeration treatment for
carbon-dioxide removal, 2.6 miles of 4-inch, 6-inch, 8-inch, and 12-inch water mains,
and 200,000 gallons of distribution storage capacity. . The system has capacity for up to
128 ERU’s according to physical capacity determinations included in Appendix I. The
District accepted ownership of the system in 2004.
2.4.3.7 Marblemount (Public Water System ID No. AA642)
The Marblemount system includes a groundwater well, 1.9 miles of 8-inch water mains,
and 64,000 gallons of distribution storage capacity. The system is approved for a
maximum of 43 ERU’s according to physical capacity determinations included in
Appendix I. The District accepted ownership of the system in 2007.
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2.5 Related Plans
This Water System Plan was developed in coordination with other existing local Water
System Plans and the Skagit County Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP) Regional
Supplements, as well as planning and projections from county and city governments
within Skagit County. The District plans to continue its cooperative relationship with
local, State, tribal and federal governments towards effective management of water
resources in Skagit County. By completing the Skagit River MOA in 1996 and following
through with instream flow work, water rights in the Skagit River basin may now be
processed, supporting the planning identified in County / City Comprehensive Plans. The
District is also assisting in training of local Fire Department personnel in hydraulics, so
they better understand the operation of the water system they rely on for support.
The Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP) Regional Supplement for Skagit County
was used as a source document for this Water System Plan. This Plan has also been
coordinated with and used data from the City of Anacortes Water System Plan.
The urban growth boundaries and certain population projections used in the preparation
of this document are the product of the planning efforts of Skagit County, the City of
Anacortes, the City of Burlington, the City of Mount Vernon and the City of SedroWoolley in response to the Washington State Growth Management Act. Other
municipalities have produced planning documents, though these documents and/or their
contents were not within the scope of this Water System Plan.
By completing the Skagit River MOA in 1996 and working its process through to
Rulemaking for instream flows on the Cultus mountain streams and the lower Skagit
River, the District was able to help open the gates to processing of water rights again in
the Skagit River basin, which support the plans of the County and local Cities. It is
imperative that land use take water resources management into account, prohibiting
activities in critical watershed and aquifer recharge areas that could cause degradation of
surface and groundwater quality or limitation of fish and wildlife habitat. A cooperative
process by the federal and State agencies, tribes, and local governments is crucial to the
effective and efficient management of water resources in Skagit County.
2.6 Existing Service Area Characteristics
The District is authorized by RCW 54.04.030 to operate water systems within and
without the limits of Skagit County, Washington. This gives the District county-wide
service authority and sets the legal boundaries of the District at, but not limited to, the
boundaries of the County. The District has agreed with other water utilities participating
in the Skagit County Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP) process on the designated
service areas for each water system. The District’s service area is essentially the entire
county except for those areas already served by another public water system. The formal
Service Area Agreement is included as Appendix B.
As evidenced by the regionally agreed upon 2000 CWSP, the District is generally
recognized as the most capable regional water purveyor in Skagit County. As a
protection for future water customers, the District is hesitant to limit it’s retail service
2-17
area It does not seem to be to the benefit of the District’s current or future customers to
reduce the District’s retail service area to something less than what was regionally agreed
upon in the 2000 CWSP; which has been subsequently applied to the District’s Judy
water rights. If the District were to reduce its retail service area, a customer may arise
outside the boundary requiring public review of an expansion of the District’s retail
service area. Delays and challenges to that process could lead that customer to develop
an exempt well or abandon the project.
In accordance with RCW 40.20.260, the District defines its retail service area as
concurrent with the service area boundaries as defined in the 2000 CWSP.
According to the municipal water law, the District has a duty to provide retail water
service within its retail service area (established in RCW 43.20.260) if:
(1) its service can be available in a timely and reasonable manner;
(2) the District has sufficient water rights to provide the service;
(3) the District has sufficient capacity to serve the water in a safe and reliable
manner as determined by the Department of Health; and
(4) it is consistent with the requirements of any comprehensive plans or
development regulations adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW or any other
applicable comprehensive plan, land use plan, or development regulation adopted
by a city, town, or county for the service area and, for water service by the water
utility of a city or town, with the utility service extension ordinances of the city or
town.
As a general philosophy, the District considers this ‘duty to serve’ as a protection of the
rights of existing or future water service customers to be served water by the District if
they desire. Water users within the District’s service area may be served water from the
District so long as they accept the District’s service requirements. The District does not
interpret the ‘duty to serve’ as requiring all new water users within the District’s service
area to be required to obtain water from the District. However, the District does
recognize that it has made commitments to reduce the proliferation of exempt wells in the
1996 MOA, and will strive to distribute piped water where possible.
The Municipal water law does not provide clear definition for what constitutes “timely
and reasonable.” DOH guidance documents indicate that this definition is to be left to the
local jurisdiction or water purveyor.
Timely and Reasonable
An individual or developer seeking public water system service is required to receive
service from a designated utility (as indicated in the CWSP) but is entitled to appeal this
requirement. For the District this is any area of Skagit County not identified as the
service area of another public water system. Other public water systems should be
2-18
approached before the District, when new customers are within ½-mile of their water
system service boundaries.
The District considers service to be “timely and reasonable” if it can be provided within
120 calendar days of all fees being paid to the District, with the following provisions:
1. If the extent of water service requested requires construction of major facilities
such as the replacement or installation of new storage tanks, wells, booster pumps
or transmission or distribution mains, the time associated with construction and
permitting will be added to the 120 days. The time period will commence after
the payment of fees.
2. Construction of water facilities are subject to design review and approval at state
and local levels. The “construction time” includes state and local permitting,
construction season considerations, and coordination with other planned
infrastructure projects such as road, sewer, lights, etc. “Construction time”
activities are in addition to the 120-day period.
3. A letter of water-availability indicating the conditions for the provision of service
will be drafted and sent to the new customer prior to the 120-day period. The
District’s water service policies are defined in the Water Code (Appendix D). A
customer is responsible for paying for appropriate connections charges, and/or
costs of extending or upgrading facilities.
4. If an appeal is requested it will be evaluated per the terms of the 2000 CWSP
appeal procedure.
Water Rights
A summary of the District’s water rights is addressed in Section 3 of this Water System
Plan.
Capacity
The physical capacity of the District’s water systems is addressed in Section 3 and in
Appendix I.
Consistency
Consistency determinations are as provided by the local land use authorities. Copies of
the consistency determinations for this plan are located in Appendix F.
Priority Service Areas
In coordination with Skagit County, the District has identified higher priority areas for
the provision of water service. These priorities include: (1) service to Urban Growth
Areas, (2) service to areas with limited access to on-site water supplies under state
instream flow rules (Chapters 173-503 and 173-505 WAC), (3) service to areas with preexisting higher rural density land use designations and corresponding County
comprehensive plan designations which recognize these areas (i.e., limited areas of more
2-19
intensive rural development (LAMIRD), as authorized by RCW 36.70A.070(5)(d)(i)) and
are located within low-flow stream basins identified in Skagit County's Critical Areas
Ordinance (Skagit County Code 14.24). To the extent possible, the District will attempt
to serve these areas with piped domestic water without subsidizing service by way of
existing ratepayers
The District has been contacted regarding service to LaConner and for many rural areas,
including Allen Island, Humphrey Hill, Lake McMurray, Starbird Road, areas around
Clear Lake, Big Lake, Pass Lake, Ten Lake, Lake Cavanaugh, Concrete, Samish River
Park, Fonk Road and several islands. These in-County areas fall with the District’s retail
service area. The District will provide retail water service to those customers desiring
water service, so long as it is done meeting the provisions of the District’s water code,
and can be provided in a timely and reasonable manner.
2.7 Future Service Area
As outlined in the District’s Service Area Agreement (see Appendix B), the District has
the potential of serving any area within the County not already a designated service area
of another approved water utility. Furthermore, per RCW 54.16.030, the District has the
authority to serve water to any person or public or private corporation outside its
designated service area, “including full and exclusive authority to sell and regulate and
control the use, distribution, and price thereof.”
Future service area The District has discussed with the Samish Water District around
Lake Samish in Whatcom County regarding extension of service, and has been
approached by utilities in Island County and San Juan County regarding satellite service.
Any potential customer(s) outside Skagit County further has the opportunity to have its
area annexed into the service territory of the District, provided their area is contiguous
with the District’s existing service boundary. The conditions and processes for
annexation are outlined in RCW 54.04.035; annexation affords the customer(s)
representation as constituent(s) of a Commissioner and allows the customer(s) to vote for
District Commissioners. Any future expansion of water service area should also address
section IV. G. 2 of the 1996 MOA which states:
(the parties agree) “To reach agreement prior to expanding service areas beyond
those identified in the CWSP. Such agreement will be based on evaluations of
additional needs existing at the time, and after considering additional needs that
may exist after the 50-year term of this Agreement. If the Parties cannot agree,
then they may not seek or approve any changes relating to water quantity
associated with the expansions of service areas for a period of 50 years from the
effective date of this Agreement.”
2.8 Service Area Agreements
The CWSP Regional Supplement identified the District and the City of Anacortes as the
responsible entities for serving growth in the urban areas. Accordingly, the District and
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Anacortes implemented a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) for development of shared
regional water supply facilities. A copy of the JOA is included in Appendix C. Under
the terms of the JOA, the District and Anacortes agree to pursue joint use facilities for
their mutual benefit, especially those that would provide a backup supply from one utility
to the other during an emergency shutdown or catastrophic failure. Such facilities may
include strategically-located interties (preferably two-way), distribution storage tanks,
and new or improved water treatment facilities. The Riverbend Intertie was the first
facility developed under the JOA, and the Skagit River MOA was an out-growth of the
JOA. Additional or expanded interties must first consider and plan for in-county
consumptive and non-consumptive needs, then consider demands outside the county.
The District also has water service agreements with two wholesale water purchasers:
Samish Farms Water District, and the North Fir Island Water Association.
2.9 Service Area Policies
The District’s policies for its routine administration and operation are contained in its
Water Code, in Appendix D.
2.10 Satellite Management Agencies
The District is the primary Satellite Management Agency for Skagit County (Satellite
Management Agency #103) and, as identified in the Agreement and the CWSP, will work
with any water system that is unable to provide service within or adjacent to its own
designated service area, and will evaluate service to any new system in undesignated
areas. The District will provide service whenever financially feasible, and may provide
service either by line extension from an existing system or establishment of a new remote
system. This process is covered in greater detail in Section 10, Satellite System Program.
2.11 Conditions of Service
The District’s policies for its routine administration and operation, including general
conditions for water service are contained in its Water Code, in Appendix D.
2.12 Complaints
The District’s policies for addressing drinking water complaints require that complaints
are currently evaluated and investigated by the Engineering Manager or Water Quality
Coordinator, and documented by the Water Quality Coordinator. As the problem is
described by the customer, details of the complaint are to be recorded, and a water quality
complaint form is available to ensure all necessary information is gathered.
The Engineering Manager or Water Quality Coordinator will try to resolve the problem
right away, when possible. If further investigation or action is necessary, these
individuals will determine who should respond and in what fashion. It is a goal to avoid
the person placing the complaint from calling around to different people. The
Engineering Manager or Water Quality Coordinator will refer the matter to the
appropriate person, and will provide written notes or the complaint form. If the situation
requires, a District employee will follow-up to ensure customer satisfaction.
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The nature of certain complaints may also warrant the involvement of the Skagit County
Public Health Department (SCPHD) and/or the State Department of Health (DOH). In
the event that the nature of the complaint involves one of the following conditions, the
appropriate health official should be contacted immediately:
•
•
•
•
Water quality is compromised,
The complainant notes that the water has caused an illness,
There is an unusual event, or
The District determines that SCPHD and/or DOH can provide beneficial
assistance to deal with the complaint.
Many routine questions and minor complaints can be resolved promptly, and there is no
need for documentation. These types of complaints include dip tube decay and questions
regarding pH or fluoride. If there is a major complaint, it is important to record the nature
of the complaint and the results of any action taken noted on the customer complaint
form. These types of complaints include chlorine taste or smell, debris or materials in the
water, discolored water, and musty odors. A record of all actions is returned to the Water
Quality Coordinator to be logged into a computer database of water complaints.
Table 2.1 summarizes the number of water quality complaints logged that were not
attributed to ongoing taste and odor events related to algae.
Table 2.1 – Summary of Number of Water Quality Complaints
Number of Water Quality Complaints by Year
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
14
22
11
21
10
23
On occasion, as during an algae related taste and odor event, the number of complaints
exceeds the ability of the Engineering Manager and Water Quality Coordinator to address
customers individually. In such instances, information is provided to all Customer
Service staff regarding the nature, expected duration, and health effects of the taste-andodor event, and complaints are addressed by Customer Service as well. During these
events, all complaints were not logged individually. During such taste and odor events,
the number of complaints can reach into the 100’s each day. However, future events will
be better anticipated and more complete records will be kept.
The District responds to all taste and odor complaints. The District makes every effort to
physically visit the customer’s residence or place of business. Each call is then recorded on a
standard complaint form and kept in a file. The Water Treatment Plant is also part of the
communication chain for information or advice.
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Each week, routine complaints received are included in the General Manager’s Report,
presented at the District Commissioner’s Meeting. The complaint record is maintained at
the District office, and is available for inspection and review.
2.13 Service Area Consistency
According to the Municipal Water Law, expansion of the place of use on a water right
through an approved WSP requires local government consistency determinations. The
District’s water rights already correspond to the CWSP, and the District has no plans at
this time to expand the place of use beyond those identified on existing water rights.
The consistency determinations of land use agencies within the District’s service area are
provided in Appendix F.
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3 Planning Data and Water Demand Forecasting
The objective of this chapter is to adequately plan to accommodate District water needs
based on projected land use and population changes.
3.1 Current Population
Federal census information was gathered in 1990 and 2000. Between census-years,
annual projections from the Office of Financial Management (OFM) provide estimates of
population. Table 3.1 indicates the historical trend of population levels within Skagit
County as a whole. As evidenced in the table, population has been steadily increasing
since 1990.
Table 3.1 – Historical Population Levels within Skagit County (1990-2006)
Census
1990
79,545
1991
82,882
1992
85,574
Census
2000
102,979
2001
104,100
2002
105,100
1993
88,938
OFM Estimates
1994
1995
1996
91,316
93,584
95,962
OFM Estimates
2003
2004
106,700 108,800
2005
110,900
1997
97,848
1998
99,847
1999
102,071
2006
113,100
3.1.1 Current Population Distribution
Table 3.2 presents population as distributed by location within the County.
Table 3.2 –Population By Locality within Skagit County (2000-2006)
Population by
Municipality
Anacortes
Burlington
Concrete
Hamilton
La Conner
Lyman
Mount Vernon
Sedro-Woolley
All Incorporated
All Unincorporated
Total Skagit County
Countywide Rate of Increase
Mount Vernon, Burlington, SedroWoolley, Rate of Increase
Census
2000
14,557
6,757
790
309
761
409
26,232
8,658
58,473
44,506
102,979
2001
14,840
6,995
790
325
765
410
26,460
8,700
59,285
44,815
104,100
2002
14,910
7,190
790
340
775
415
26,670
8,805
59,895
45,205
105,100
1.08%
1.21%
0.95%
1.20%
3-24
OFM Estimates
2003
2004
15,110
15,470
7,315
7,425
780
785
340
340
760
785
425
440
27,060
27,720
9,080
9,380
60,870
62,345
45,830
46,455
106,700 108,800
1.50%
1.82%
1.93%
2.40%
2005
2006
15,700
7,550
815
330
795
450
28,210
9,800
63,650
47,250
110,900
16,170
8,120
840
330
839
450
28,710
9,755
65,214
47,886
113,100
1.89%
2.27%
1.95%
2.20%
3.1.2 Current Customers
The District tracks customer accounts and water consumption through its billing system.
The billing system database is queried and recorded on a monthly basis. Based upon
these queries the total number of services, active services, and billed consumption are
tracked. The billing system also characterizes each service by system, meter-size,
customer type, general location, etc.
As Table 3.3 demonstrates, the number of customer accounts has grown steadily since
1998. The rate of increase in services has outpaced the rate of growth in the County as a
whole. This is to be expected as growth is occurring at a faster pace in the urban areas
served by the District than in the County as a whole.
Table 3.3 –Total Number of District Services (2000-2006)
Active Services
Total Installed Services
Rate of increase
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
19339
19908
1.96%
19693
20331
1.80%
20210
20840
2.56%
20773
21351
2.71%
21300
21827
2.47%
21784
22310
2.22%
22462
22923
3.02%
3.1.3 Location and Customer Type
Through the District’s billing system, customer types and general locations are
monitored. Table 3.4 indicates the number of active services by customer type and water
system from 2006.
Table 3.4 – Active District Services by Customer Type (2006)
2006
Judy
Fidalgo Island
Alger
Cedargrove
Mountain View
Marblemount
Potlatch
Rockport
Skagit View Village
TOTAL
Number of Active Services by Customer Type
Residential
MultiFamily
Commercial
/Non-Profit
Farms
Govt
Resale
Irrigation
18308
648
91
157
14
32
52
56
1196
15
1
-
1693
11
6
1
2
-
125
-
171
4
2
4
-
2
-
151
-
19358
1212
1713
125
3-25
181
2
151
Com,
Indust,
Tribal
3
3
Fire
Protection
Other
113
-
9
113
Total
Accounts
by System
21771
678
99
158
15
0
32
58
56
9
3.2 Current Water Demands
The District monitors water production and consumption via 81 source and pressure zone
meters, as well as nearly 22,000 distribution meters. Source and zone meters are read on
a monthly basis; whereas customer meters are read on either a monthly or bi-monthly
basis.
3.2.1 Production
Table 3.5 presents annual water demands by water system for the 2000-2006 timeframe.
Table 3.5 Annual Water Production and Purchases
Water System
Judy
Purchased
Fidalgo Island
Alger
Cedargrove
Marblemount
Mountain View
Potlatch Beach
Rockport
Skagit View Village
2000
2,687,636
429,652
50,653
4,358
9,477
905
585
Total
2,753,614
-
Total Annual Production Including Water Purchases
(1000's of Gallons)
2003
2005
2001
2002
2004
2006
2,684,333 2,715,928 2,948,180 2,881,292 2,792,635 2,861,020
178,721
179,732
397,662
306,574
152,841
323,212
43,736
45,661
54,235
59,326
49,205
6,733
6,391
6,803
8,028
7,826
8,656
10,697
13,404
12,200
14,874
15,177
21,318
882
829
1,339
1,041
1,018
1,157
544
577
625
615
422
456
3,817
3,811
3,240
3,676
not full year
1,640
3,165
2,746,925
2,782,790
3,027,199
2,968,987
2,871,163
2,899,448
As Table 3.4 demonstrates, around 97-percent of all District water demand is within the
Judy System. Not included in the table is beneficial water use for reservoir flushing.
Also, all the water use for Fidalgo Island is purchased from the City of Anacortes.
3.2.2 Demand Types
The majority of the District’s water demands are billed customers; however, other water
demands include the District’s hydrant meter program, distribution system flushing
program, raw water reservoir flushing program, fire department water usage, water theft,
and leakage. Water demand which is not metered and billed is substantially more
difficult to account for.
3.2.3 Demand by Location
Based on master meter readings, it is possible to track water demands for portions of the
District’s Judy water system. Figure 3.1 illustrates the average day demands within the
areas which are tracked in the Judy system.
3-26
3-27
3.2.4 Equivalent Residential Units
Billing data for the 2004-2006 timeframe indicate an average consumption of 178
gallons-per-service-per-day (gpsd) for single family residential services in the Judy
Reservoir service area. By definition, the District will use 178 gallons per service per
day (gpsd) for Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) calculations relating non-residential or
multi-family water used to single family residences for the Judy System. Values for each
system are given in Table 3.6 below.
Table 3.6 - Equivalent Residential Units by water system
Water System
Judy
Fidalgo Island
Alger
Cedargrove
Marblemount
Mountain View
Potlatch Beach
Rockport
Skagit View Village
Avg
Systemwide
Consumption
Per ERU (gpsd) ADD (GPD) Total ERU'S
178
7,838,000
44,080
121
135,000
1,114
156
24,000
154
103
58,000
563
189
3,000
16
44
1,000
23
143
10,000
70
113
9,000
80
As seen in Table 3.6 there is a variation in the usage per ERU depending on water
system. This variation appears to be a function of the rate structure, typical lot sizes, and
full-time versus part-time residency of water users.
Peak Factors. Based on real time data collected at the District’s Judy Reservoir Water
Treatment Plant, the District has calculated water consumption use factors to compare
average and maximum day use. For calendar year 2006, the water use and peaking
factors in the Judy Reservoir system were as shown in table 3.7:
Table 3.7 – 2006 Judy Reservoir Average Day Demand and Peaking Factors
Overall
Production
Average day demand 9.5 mgd
Maximum day
demand
15.9 mgd
Peaking
Factor
1.0
1.7
The numbers presented in Table 3.7 indicate the total water processed by the plant for a
given average day or maximum day. This is a different quantity than the finished water
produced by the plant, and does not include intertie purchases.
3-28
3.2.5 Regional Water Demands
As detailed in Section 2, the District is responsible for water service consistent with the
conditions of the CWSP throughout the entire Skagit County, and adjacent areas
including the Stanwood/Camano Island area in Snohomish County, and the Lake Samish
area in Whatcom County. The District’s service area is also concurrent with the City of
Anacortes, which includes North Whidbey Island, the City of Oak Harbor, and the
Whidbey Naval Air Base. Because of the regional coverage of the District’s service area,
a discussion of regional water demands is prudent.
3.2.5.1 Anacortes
Anacortes is the region’s largest water producer. Per Anacortes’ 2000 Water System
Plan, their average daily demands are approximately as shown in Table 3-8 below:
Table 3.8 – City of Anacortes Water System Average Day Demands
Tesoro Refinery
Equillon Refinery
City of Anacortes
Oak Harbor and NAS Whidbey Island
Town of LaConner and Shelter Bay
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
District’s Judy Reservoir System
District’s Fidalgo Island System
Est’d Unaccounted-for Water
TOTAL Average Demands:
2000
5.1 mgd
7.0 mgd
1.8 mgd
2.4 mgd
0.4 mgd
0.1 mgd
0.3 mgd
0.2 mgd
0.2 mgd
17.6 mgd
Domestic Demands Only:
Peak Factor
5.5 mgd
1.5
As referred to in Section 4.4 of the District’s 1993 Joint Operating Agreement with
Anacortes “Planning for additional facilities will commence, unless otherwise agreed to
in writing, no later than the date at which any party’s demand reaches 85-percent of that
party’s capacity rights or when the five-year forecast exceeds the capacity.”
Currently, the District has water rights (based on the 1996 MOA) of 35.7 MGD. Based
on the high-growth projections given in 3.5.1, the District will not exceed an ADD of
30.3 (85% of 35.7) until well beyond 2025.
3.2.5.2 Other Water Systems
The 2000 CWSP Regional Supplement identified 22-expanding community systems, 45non-expanding/non-community sytems, 24-non-expanding/community sytems, and 93Group B systems within Skagit County. Due to the large number of these water systems,
and their unique characteristics, it is difficult to summarize these existing regional
demands.
3-29
3.3 Current Land Use
There are five agencies with land use authority within the service areas of the District:
Skagit County, the City of Mount Vernon, the City of Burlington, the City of SedroWoolley, the Upper Skagit Tribe, and the Samish Indian Nation (although it is unclear
what the requirements are for consistency review for the tribal nations under the
municipal water law). The current zoning maps for the municipal and County
organizations are included in Appendix E.
As indicated in the table 3.9 which follows, 90-percent of Skagit County is comprised of
Natural Resource Lands or Public Lands.
Table 3.9 Generalized Land Use within Skagit County
3.4 Forecasted Population
The District is a municipal corporation; however, it does not govern the creation of land
use plans, comprehensive plans, or development regulations within its service area.
However, with the passage of the Municipal Water Law (Municipal Water Supply Efficiency Requirements Act Chapter 5, Laws of 2003) the District requires local
government consistency determinations between this Water System Plan and local land
use plans, comprehensive plans, coordinated water system plans, watershed plans, and
development regulations (RCW 90.03.386). See Appendix F – Consistency Statement
Checklists.
Therefore, those population projections used in development of this plan are taken from
outside agency approved plans.
3.4.1 Adopted GMA Projections
The Skagit County Growth Management Act Steering Committee has adopted a 2025
population forecast of 149,080 for Skagit County. This is near the mid-point between the
Office of Financial Management’s Low and Medium Projections. Based on the 80%
urban / 20% rural goal for new growth, this amounts to 105,750 urban residents and
43,330 rural residents in 2025. A higher rate of growth is expected in the areas near the
I-5 corridor. The adopted population forecast is detailed in table 3.10.
3-30
Table 3.10 GMA Steering Committee adopted Population Projections
As mentioned, the adopted projections are based on projections of potential population
change as developed by the Office of Financial Management. Those projections are for
increasing population growth through 2025 as summarized in Table 3.11.
Table 3.11 OFM Projections of Total Skagit County Population (2000-2025)
(released Jan, 2002)
Avg Annual
Rate of
Increase
High
Intermediate
Low
2.67%
1.90%
1.21%
2000
102,979
102,979
102,979
2005
121,451
113,136
106,914
3-31
2010
137,054
123,807
113,902
2015
154,785
135,717
121,467
2020
176,627
150,449
130,891
2025
198,992
164,797
139,253
3.4.2 CWSP Projections
The Skagit County CWSP included population forecast beyond 2025. The basis for this
projection appears to be the OFM trends, but extrapolated over a longer time span. For
the purposes of examining potential long-range water usage, these projections from 20002050 are included in Table 3.12.
Table 3.12 2000 CWSP Projections (from Table 7-3)
2000
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
Low
101,617
118,853
139,560
161,890
187,792
217,839
Medium
103,475
125,510
152,812
183,374
220,049
264,059
High
106,454
136,644
176,067
220,083
275,104
343,880
3.5 Forecasted Water Demands
Projections of water demands are closely tied to the projections of population increase for
Skagit County, as well as the possibility of large new customers (i.e. new industrial
demands, or regional wholesale water customers). Because of the unknown nature of
water useage needs, a range of projections are examined in the following sections.
3.5.1 High Growth Scenario
The analysis presented in Table 3.13 presents a combination of the OFM high population
growth projections for Skagit County, as well as outside of County demand and new
industrial demands as presented in the 2000 Coordinated Water System Plan.
Table 3.13 Projected High Population Growth and Water Demands 2025
Population
2025
16,866
54,748
20,015
3,285
21,625
-
Public Utility District
Burlington
Mount Vernon
Sedro-W oolley
Bayview
Rural Judy SVC area
Outside of County Demand
New Industrial Demand
Subtotal Judy:
116,539
Subtotal PUD Remote:
2,566
444
694
213
483
242
56
131
4,829
Fidalgo Island
Alger
Cedargrove
Rockport
Skagit View Village
Marblemount
Mountain View
Potlatch
3-32
W ater Demand (MGD)
ADD
MDD
GPCD
1.5
5.0
22.15
0.271
0.039
0.068
0.039
0.019
0.063
0.006
0.002
0.50
3.5
5.0
38.24
0.96
134
105
3.5.2 Intermediate Growth Scenario
The analysis presented in Table 3.15 presents a combination of the OFM medium
population growth projections for Skagit County, as well as outside of County demand
and new industrial demands as extrapolated from the 2000 Coordinated Water System
Plan.
Table 3.15 Projected Medium Population Growth and Water Demands 2025
Population
2025
13,972
45,356
16,582
2,721
17,915
-
Public Utility District
Burlington
Mount Vernon
Sedro-Woolley
Bayview
Rural Judy SVC area
Outside of County Demand
New Industrial Demand
Subtotal Judy:
96,547
Subtotal PUD Remote:
2,126
368
575
176
400
200
46
109
4,001
Fidalgo Island
Alger
Cedargrove
Rockport
Skagit View Village
Marblemount
Mountain View
Potlatch
3-33
Water Demand (MGD)
ADD
MDD
GPCD
12.97
0.223
0.039
0.060
0.018
0.042
0.021
0.005
0.011
0.42
24.64
0.80
134
105
3.5.3 Low Growth Scenario
The analysis presented in Table 3.16 presents a combination of the OFM low population
growth projections for Skagit County, and assumes no new out-of-county demands or
large new industrial users.
Table 3.16 Projected Low Population Growth and Water Demands 2025
Population
2025
11,790
38,270
13,991
2,296
15,117
-
Public Utility District
Burlington
Mount Vernon
Sedro-Woolley
Bayview
Rural Judy SVC area
Outside of County Demand
New Industrial Demand
Subtotal Judy:
81,464
Subtotal PUD Remote:
1,794
311
485
149
338
169
39
92
3,376
Fidalgo Island
Alger
Cedargrove
Rockport
Skagit View Village
Marblemount
Mountain View
Potlatch
Water Demand (MGD)
ADD
MDD
GPCD
10.94
0.189
0.027
0.047
0.027
0.013
0.031
0.004
0.001
0.34
20.79
134
0.65
101
3.5.4 Effect of Conservation Measures
The District was required by WAC 246-290-830 to set measurable six-year Water Use
Efficiency Conservation Goals that maintain or reduce water use. These goals were
adopted on January 22, 2008 by the District’s Board, and are as follows:
1.
Reduce unaccounted for water by one percent in the next six years.
2.
Reduce consumption per Equivalent Residential Units from 178 gallons per
service per day to 175 gallons per service per day in the next six years.
3.
Reduce the summer peak flows from 1.7 times Average Daily Demand to 1.6
times Average Daily Demand.
If we assume successful water use reductions in keeping with the goals; Goal 1 should
reduce the water consumption by 1/6th percent for each of the next 6-years (assuming
that this unaccounted for water is leakage). Goal 2 would result in a 1.6-percent
reduction in residential demand at the end of 6-years. Residential demand constitutes
around 58-percent of the Judy System demands, and close to 100-percent of the satellite
system demands. Goal 3 would decrease the maximum day from 1.7-times ADD to 1.6
times ADD. A determination of 2027 demands is difficult to extrapolate from the
3-34
conservation projections because new customers are likely to use less water per capita
owing to required efficient fixtures; however for the purpose of this extrapolation, it is
assumed that this would manifest as a percentage decrease of the total.
The combined effects of the District’s goals on total annual demands are summarized in
the tables which follow:
System
Judy System
Fidalgo Island
Alger
Cedargrove
Rockport
Skagit View Village
System
Judy System
Fidalgo Island
Alger
Cedargrove
Rockport
Skagit View Village
2008
2,962,317
50,638
8,962
21,730
3,748
3,227
Projected Production Without Efficiency Measures
(1000's of Gallons)
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
3,014,303 3,067,201 3,121,027 3,175,798 3,231,530 3,288,241
51,125
51,617
52,113
52,615
53,121
53,631
9,120
9,280
9,443
9,608
9,777
9,949
21,939
22,150
22,363
22,577
22,795
23,014
3,784
3,821
3,858
3,895
3,933
3,971
3,258
3,289
3,321
3,353
3,386
3,418
2027
4,122,711
60,737
12,473
26,061
4,501
3,874
2008
2,952,798
50,419
8,924
21,636
3,731
3,213
Projected Production With Efficiency Measures
(1000's of Gallons)
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
3,057,345 3,110,998 3,165,593 3,221,146 3,277,674
51,393
51,888
52,387
52,890
53,399
9,240
9,402
9,567
9,735
9,905
22,054
22,266
22,480
22,696
22,914
3,804
3,841
3,878
3,916
3,954
3,275
3,307
3,339
3,371
3,403
2027
4,109,464
60,474
12,419
25,948
4,482
3,857
2009
3,004,617
50,904
9,080
21,844
3,768
3,244
3.5.5 Discussion
The maximum day demand for the Judy System projects to be in the range of 20.79 MGD
to 38.24 MGD (by 2025). The expanded 30 MGD water treatment facility at Judy
Reservoir should cover demands except maximum days under the high-growth
projections. However, the District will explore cooperative water supply strategies for
any make-up water which may be necessary.
The District has reviewed the planning documents of the three large municipalities within
its Judy service area. The District recognizes that it must work with these Cities to assure
adequate urban public water facilities are provided. The District’s projections of
population are consistent with those used in the GMA planning of these Cities.
3.6 Water Rights
The District has water rights for all water systems, except the Potlatch System which
withdraws seawater and does not require a water right; and Fidalgo Island which
purchases water from the City of Anacortes. Copies of the District’s water rights are
included in Appendix G.
3.6.1 Judy Reservoir System
The Judy Reservoir System has traditionally diverted water from Cultus Mountain
streams (Mundt, Turner, Salmon, and Gilligan) and impounded that water in Judy
3-35
Reservoir. This cyclical operation of the District’s water resources meant that the District
would collect water through fall and winter, and fill Judy Reservoir by spring. During
the summer the reservoir level falls as water demands exceed water collected from
streams.
The District is in the process of significantly modifying its raw water collection protocol.
In the 1996 Memorandum of Agreement Regarding Utilization of Skagit River Basin
Water Resources for Instream and Out Of Stream Purposes (MOA), the District agreed to
operate its raw water collection in a manner which was protective of minimum instream
flows in the Cultus Mountain Streams and the Skagit River.
The District’s Judy Reservoir water rights are significantly linked to the 1996 MOA.
Figure 3.2 graphically illustrates the relationship of the District’s water rights to instream
flows. At the time of this plan writing, the raw-water diversion pump station on the
Skagit River has not been completed.
Full implementation of the water use conditions of the 1996 MOA is contingent on the
completion of the Skagit River Diversion pump station (because a source of water from
the Skagit River is necessary for raw water supply when the Cultus Streams are below
established minimum instream flows). This pumping station will play a key role in the
management of the raw water resources for the District. Also, approval of water right
transfers and new water rights can not be fully processed until this pump station is
complete.
The District is making preparations for the full implementation of the 1996 MOA
conditions including Exhibit A, which requires the District and City of Anacortes to enact
certain implementation usage reduction and public information measures depending on
the flow of the Skagit River and duration of the low flow event. These measures are
summarized in the tables which follow:
3-36
Measures to be taken when flows in Skagit River at less than 1.2-times the
minimum instream flow.
Alert Level I
Implementation Measures
Duration (days)
1-2
3-14
1 No change in water withdrawal/treatment plant operations
The PUD will evaluate the flow conditions in their Cultus Mountain project for the period(s)
of low floaw and will implement a program to maximize storage in Judy Reservoir. The
PUD will also use peaking flows from up- and down ramping at the upstream dams in the
2 Skagit River to keep Judy Reservoir full.
On behalf of the SRFMC, outline the route of flows from the upstream Skagit River dams
downstream to the PUD pipeline crossing using the upstream dam operating rule curves,
projected flows from the intervening areas, historical records of streamflows at the
3 upstream gaging stations, and standard routing procedures.
4 Prepare PSA #1
1 No change in water withdrawal/treatment plant operations
2 The PUD will continue its program to maximize storage in Judy Reservoir
Promote a program of voluntary water use reduction by all City and PUD water customers,
3 with a goal of ten percent (10%) reduction in peak day demand.
Issue PSA # 1 to newspaper and radio media requesting voluntary reduction of
4 discretionary use of water
5
15+
6
1
2
3
4
5
In conjunction with the Tribes, monitor and evaluate critical elements of the Lower Skagit
River Instream Flows against planned and projected fisheries and habitat management
plans for the period(s) of projected low flow. Elements of the Lower Skagit River Instream
Flow to be evaluated include: the projected timing of use and passage of fish through the
reach of the Skagit River downstream of the PUD river crossing; a comparison of routed
flows (provided by the City and PUD) with flows required by the Instream Flow; and the
effects of the routed flows on habitat conditions existing or projected to exist during the
low flow period(s). Results of the Lower Skagit River Instream Flow critical elements
monitoring and evaluation will be provided by the City and PUD.
The City and PUD shall develop/refine a "Contingency Plan of Operation" for the period(s)
of low flow using: the routed flows from the upstream reaches of the Skagit River;
maximized storage in Judy Reservoir; results from the Instream Flow monitoring and
evaluation assessment; estimates of water savings from voluntary water use reduction
program(s); and weather and water supply forecasts for the Skagit River Basin. The
"Contingency Plan of Operations" will provide for conjunctive use of the PUD's Cultus
Mountain Project and the City's and PUD's Skagit River facilities. The "Contingency Plan
of Operations" will optimize the PUD's use of water from Judy Reservoir during periods
when demands exceed available withdrawals from the City's and PUD's Skagit River
facilities and the PUD's Cultus Mountain project due to established instream flows on
those water courses.
No change in water withdrawal/treatment plant operations
The PUD will continue its program to maximize storage in Judy Reservoir
Continue a program of voluntary water use reduction by all City and PUD water
customers, with a goal of ten percent (10%) reduction.
Continue to refine the "Contingency Plan of Operations" based on additional streamflow
information and City and PUD customer demand information.
Continue PSA #1 by newspaper and radio media.
3-37
Alert Level II
Measures to be taken when flow in the Skagit River falls below instream flow levels
Implementation Measures
Duration (days)
1-2
3-14
15+
1 Limit water withdrawals to quantities exempt from Lower Skagit River Instream Flows
2 The PUD will continue its program to maximize storage in Judy Reservoir
Implement the "Contingency Plan of Operations". Continue to refine the "Contingency
Plan of Operations" based on additional streamflow information and City and PUD
3 customer demand information.
Notify the upstream Skagit River dams of the downstream flow situation and arrange for
4 additional releases, if possible, if the situation continues.
5 Continue PSA #1 by newspaper and radio media.
6 Prepare PSA #2.
1 Limit water withdrawals to quantities exempt from Lower Skagit River Instream Flows.
2 The PUD will continue its program to maximize storage in Judy Reservoir.
Continue implementation of the "Contingency Plan of Operations". Continue to refine the
"Contingency Plan of Operations" based on additional streamflow information and City
3 and PUD customer demand information.
Request the upstream Skagit River dam operators to commence additional releases.
Such additional releases should be timed to realize the effect of the release at the PUD
pipeline crossing at the time of projected deficient streamflow. The City and PUD will
4 base their request(s) on established routing procedures.
5 Issue PSA #2 to newspaper and radio media.
Limit water withdrawals to quantities exempt from Lower Skagit River Instream Flows, and
1 seek voluntary reduction in demand to meet instream flows.
2 The PUD will continue its program to maximize storage in Judy Reservoir.
Continue implementation of the "Contingency Plan of Operations". Continue to refine the
"Contingency Plan of Operations" based on additional streamflow information and City
3 and PUD customer demand information.
4 Continue to request the upstream Skagit River continue additional releases.
5 Continue PSA #2 by newspaper and radio media.
The Judy System water rights are summarized in Table 3.17.
3-38
Table 3.17 – Judy System Water Rights
Certificated Rights
Qi, Max
Diversion
Qa,
(cfs)
(MGD) (ac-ft) Comments
TOGETH W/ S1-00737C, Qi <=
2.5
1.62 1810 8.0cfs & Qa <= 3886 afy
Name
Status
Certification #
Priority
Date
MUNDT CREEK
CERTIFICATED
VOL 1, PG 26
9/28/1917
TURNER CREEK
CERTIFICATED
CLAIM 9333
PRE-1917
4.3
2.78
TURNER CREEK
CERTIFICATED
S1-00739C
10/30/1963
6.2
4.01
MUNDT CREEK
CERTIFICATED
S1-00737C
10/30/1963
8
5.17
2300 Vested Right Transferred to District
SUPPLEMENTAL TO 8738 AND R100673C
0
SUPPLEMENTAL TO 26, 8738
3886 AND R1-00673C
SALMON CREEK
CERTIFICATED
CLAIM 9332
PRE-1917
1.8
1.16
307
Vested Right transferred to District
GILLIGAN CREEK
CERTIFICATED
VOL 1, PG 441
10/10/1929
1.5
0.97
0
From Puget Sound Pulp and Timber
GILLIGAN CREEK
CERTIFICATED
S1-00724C
10/30/1963
7.39
4.78
SKAGIT RIVER RANNEY WELL TRANSFERRING VOL 5, PG 2107-A 5/12/1954
8.91
5.76
SEDRO WOOLLEY WELL
2.01
1.30
3700 Supplemental to existing 1.5cfs right
Approved for transfer to Skagit
6400 River Diverision
Approved for transfer to Skagit
1440 River Diversion
TRANSFERRING VOL 4, PG 1904-A 3/26/1953
Claims
Name
Status
Certification #
Priority
Date
PIGEON CREEK
CLAIM
CLAIM 9335
PRE-1917
ROCK SPRINGS CREEK
CLAIM
CLAIM 9334
PRE-1917
UNNAMED CREEK
CLAIM
CLAIM 9336
PRE-1917
COLD SPRINGS CREEK
CLAIM
CLAIM 9337
PRE-1917
E FORK NOOKACHAMPS
CLAIM
CLAIM 9338
PRE-1917
Qi, Max
Diversion
Qa,
(cfs)
(MGD) (ac-ft) Comments
Vested Right Transferred to District not active
0.2
0.13 40
Vested Right Transferred to District 0.2
0.13 2900 not active
Vested Right Transferred to District not active
0.1
0.06 20
Vested Right Transferred to District not active
0.2
0.13 40
Vested Right Transferred to District not active
-
Applications
Name
MUNDT CREEK
TURNER CREEK
Status
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
Application #
S1-27861
S1-27862
SALMON CREEK
APPLICATON
GILLIGAN CREEK
SKAGIT RIVER PUMP STATION
JANICKI CREEK
DAY CREEK
STARBIRD, T33, R04, 28
STARBIRD, T33, R04, 33
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
Qi, Max
Diversion
Qa,
(MGD) (ac-ft) Comments
Priority Dat (cfs)
10/22/1997
10/22/1997
18.56
6.6
10.38
4.27
S1-*18219
10/30/1963
4.0
2.58
S1-25129
S1-27860
S1-18220
4566, 14220
G1-26742
G1-27030
11/16/1987
9/29/1992
3/31/1993
13.15
12.8
9.0
1.11
0.78
8.50
8.27
5.82
0.72
0.50
Certification #
VOL 18, PG 8738
R1-00673C
Volume
Priority
(ac-ft)
Date
Permit #
R-142
1/16/1946
1500
4250
BOOK 2, R- 4/24/1963
Certificated Storage Rights
Name
JUDY RESERVOIR
JUDY RESERVOIR
Status
CERTIFICATED
CERTIFICATED
Storage Right Applications
Name
DAY LAKE
Status
APPLICATION
Application #
R-14221
Permit #
3-39
Volume
Priority
(ac-ft)
Date
1/24/1957 11200
Part of MOA
Part of MOA
Part of MOA, Oring Applic for 0.1
cfs
Part of MOA, Oring Applic for 9.6
cfs
Part of MOA
3-40
The District’s total certificated and recorded surface water claims and rights in the Judy
Reservoir system sum to a Qi of 31.69 cfs (20.48 mgd). The Qi for the Ranney Well and
Sedro-Woolley Well sum to 10.90 cfs, bringing the total current “surface water” rights of
the District to 42.59 cfs (27.52 mgd). This amount is not subject to Lower Skagit River
Instream Flows, however any additional Qi approved by Ecology on the Skagit River for
the District will be subject to Lower Skagit River Instream Flows. The total Qa for these
surface water claims and rights supporting the Judy Reservoir water system is 18,755 AcFt/yr, including both primary and supplemental rights. The individual Qa breakdown is
also shown in Table 3.17.
As evidenced by the above discussion, the actual amount of annual water available to the
District is subject to the streamflows during a given year. The District is studying the
streamflow and Skagit River flow data, and will eventually develop a probable quantity
of water available, and an operation plan for the stream and river diversions.
These rights are sufficient to supply the current usage (2861 MG in 2006) plus water
being diverted and bypassed through the Judy Reservoir spillway / drain system to purge
the impounded water, a form of water treatment that requires the bypass of an estimated
1,401 MG (about 4,300 Ac-ft) each year. This is an operating requirement that the
District must divert water for, and is quantified and included as part of the District’s
water rights even though it is essentially being returned to other surface waters of the
Skagit River basin.
For water quality reasons, the District has not in recent years regularly used its ground
water rights within the Judy Reservoir system for production purposes; these sources are
reserved for situations (emergency/ summer supply) when Judy Reservoir and City of
Anacortes intertie sources can not meet District demands. Once the Skagit River raw
water pumping station is completed and in use, the Ranney Well and Sedro-Woolley
Well are expected to be dismantled and properly abandoned.
3.6.2 Interties
The District currently has four major interties between its Judy Reservoir system and the
City of Anacortes’ water system. The frequency of use and hydraulic capacities of these
interties are as indicated in Table 3-18. The Avon and Riverbend Interties have general
benefit to the 214’ HGL pressure zone of the Judy Reservoir system.
The City of Anacortes currently designates a committed volume of 405 MG per year for
use by the District (as of 2006, though this number can be changed by agreement between
the City an District). Volumes in excess of 405 MG may be available but involve a
higher cost per unit of water.
3-41
Table 3.18 – Judy Reservoir – Anacortes System Interties
Historical
Capacity
Peak
Description
(mgd)
Month
Frequency of Use
Avon Intertie
Fredonia Intertie
Lefeber Intertie
Riverbend Intertie
Twin Bridges
2
4.3
10
4.7
4
73.3 MG
4.1 MG
20.6 MG
113.5 MG
0.04 MG
Emergency/demand peak
Daily (fire/demand peaks only)
Daily (2.5 mgd MDD in year 2020)
Emergency/demand peak
Daily (domestic/fire demand)
3.6.3 Remote System Water Rights
The water rights for the District’s remote systems are summarized in Table 3.19 below:
Table 3.19 – Remote System Water Rights
Name
Status
Certification #
Permit #
Priority
Date
MOUNTAIN VIEW WELL
CERTIFICATED
G1-25755C
G1-25755P
6/26/1990
ROCKPORT WELL
CEDARGROVE WELL
CERTIFICATED
CERTIFICATED
G1-25509 C
G1-25994 C
G1-25509 P
G1-25994
8/25/1989
12/5/1990
POTLATCH WELLS 1 AND 2
CANCELED PERMIT
G1-24396 P
10/17/1983
ALGER WELL
CERTIFICATED
VOL 8, PG 3885-A BOOK 11, PG 5401 9/21/1960
WHITMARSH WELL #1
CERTIFICATED
VOL 6, PG 2790-A 3916
12/1/1955
WHITMARSH WELL #2
MARBLEMOUNT
SKAGIT VIEW VILLAGE
CERTIFICATED
PERMIT
PERMIT
VOL 9, PG 4210-A 5543
G1-28137P
G1-20763P
3/20/1961
6/4/2002
7/24/1973
Qi, Max
Diversion Qa,
(gpm) (ac-ft) Comments
Orig. Permit done by Hendrickson,
for 46gpm, 8acfy
41
3.8
Supplemental with G1-22623C nte
100gpm, 38.6acfy
95
19
262
53.8
Canceled 10/10/2001 emergency only
30
9
Certificated to Alger Community
Club, LLC
100
100
Not in use - SOLD RESOLUTION
# 1622-94
80
128
Not in use - SOLD RESOLUTION
NO. 1619-94
75
120
150
19.4 Requires stream augmentation
200
38.4 80 gpm interuptible
3.7 System Capacity Analysis
Per the Municipal Water Law (SESSHB 1338) the District has a ‘duty to serve’ new
connections within the District’s Retail Service Area, so long as certain criteria are met.
One of these criteria is that the water system has sufficient capacity to serve the new
connection.
The physical capacity of a water system is defined per WAC 246-290-222. The physical
capacity is the number of ERU’s which can be served by a system based on an analysis of
average day demand per ERU, water rights, source of supply, and storage capacity. The
methodology to determine physical capacity is contained within the Department of
Health Water System Design Manual. The computations of physical capacity are
provided in Appendix I. When the physical capacity of the satellite systems were initially
computed an Average Daily Demand (ADD) of 400 gallons-per-service-per-day (gpsd) was
used, because actual usage data was unknown. However, actual billing data was used in
these calculations as appropriate.
A summary of the physical capacity for each water system is provided in Table 3.20
3-42
Table 3.20 – Physical Capacity of District Water Systems
Physical Consumpti
Total
Capacity
on per Water Sold
(ERUs)
ERU
2006 (kgal) 2006 ERUs
Remaining
Most Limiting
Capacity
Element
Water System:
Judy Reservoir
57900
178
2,861,020
44,036
13,864 Standby Storage
Fidalgo Island
2505
121
49,275
1,116
1,389 Source Pump Station
Alger
219
156
8,656
152
67 Source Well
Cedargrove
466
103
160
306 Annual Water Right
Rockport
138
143
3,676
70
68 Capacity Rel Storage
Skagit View Village
128
113
3,165
77
51 Water Right Cap
Marblemount
43
400
n/a
43 Annual Water Right
Mountain View
14
189
1,157
14
At capacity Group B - no storage
Potlatch
182
44
456
28
154 Capacity Rel Storage
*Cedargrove water sold data high because of anomolous large use (leak during 2006)
** Marblemount consumption based per ERU based on DOH standard for systems without metered history.
As described in Section 8.1.5, the District uses a billing system were meter-reads are
collected in the field via touch-read devices, radio read meters, and manual reads. Meters
are read on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, and downloaded into an AS400 database
installed in 1991. At the end of each month, the District’s accountant prints a hardcopy
report of the bill-runs for the month. This report includes a query which summarizes
billed consumption, and number of bills sent for the District’s 24,000 accounts by 15
customer classes, and 9 systems. The AS400 system does not keep more than each
billing-cycle’s worth of information, so this summary information is re-entered by the
District’s planning engineer into an excel spreadsheet so annual statistics can be
generated.
To calculate ADD per ERU, the District’s planning engineer used an average of available
annual consumption data in the system. By system the annual use in the residential
category was divided by the number of bills.
This means of calculating ADD treats part-time residential users receiving a bill equally
as full-time residential users receiving a bill. The assumption for planning purposes is
that any additional users would follow the same use pattern as the existing users. The
District has no means of distinguishing whether a new connection will be occupied full
time or part time. Many of the District’s remote systems are in areas conducive to people
owning second homes.
Certain systems are outside the norm in terms of statewide average day demand because
of rates, or seasonal nature of the residency. Therefore caution and professional
engineering principles should be exercised in evaluating how many additional
connections can be made.
The District feels that it is unlikely that these satellite systems will be approaching
capacity in the near future. This allows for periodic re-evaluation of system capacity to
determine if customer usage patterns have changed.
3-43
4 System Analysis
4.1 Design Standards
The District has established design standards for all water improvement projects, whether
designed by the District or by another engineering firm/agency. The intent is that all
projects be designed to the same standard to ensure uniformity of final product and of
cost to the financier. The design standards are detailed in Appendix C of the District’s
Water Code; the complete Water Code is attached as Appendix D of this Plan. Standard
material and construction specifications are included as a portion of the Water Code. The
design standards and material / construction specifications are the minimum allowed by
the District; the District may impose more stringent requirements for specific projects
based on the relation of the project to overall District water plant development.
4.1.1 Fire Protection
While addressed in the Water Code, fire protection requires special note due to its tie to
the CWSP Regional Supplement. Fire protection by fire hydrants and/or other means
shall be required as determined by the Fire Marshal for the County or respective City.
Spacing of fire hydrants shall be as determined by the Fire Marshal, using Table 4-1 as a
minimum standard. The cost of each hydrant installation requested by a customer shall
be borne totally by that customer. The cost of each new hydrant installation required by
the Fire Marshal for a District-sponsored waterline replacement project shall be borne by
the District; the cost of each additional hydrant beyond this requested by another party
shall be borne by that party.
4-44
Table 4.1 Minimum Fire Flow Design Standards for New and Expanding Water
Systems
Minimum Fire Flow Design Standards For
(1)
New And Expanding Water Systems
Land Use Designations Or Densities
Maximum
Hydrant
Spacing
(Feet)
Minimum Fire
Flow
(Gallons
Per
Minute)
Minimum
Duration
(Minutes)
1500
1500
1500
1000
60
60
60
60
(3)
1500 (4)
500 (5)
NONE (5)
NONE (5)
60 (4)
30 (5)
NONE (5)
NONE (5)
(4)
Urban Growth Areas (2)
Industrial
Commercial
Multi-Family Residential
Single-Family & Duplex Residential
(3)
500
500
Non-Urban Growth Areas
Commercial / Industrial
1 Dwelling Unit Per Lot Less Than 2.5 Acres
1 Dwelling Unit Per Lot 2.5 Acres Or Larger
Natural Resource Lands
900 (5)
NONE (5), (6)
(5), (6)
(1) The design standards may be amended to reflect changes to Comprehensive Plan land use
designations and/or their densities. Proposed amendments will be presented to the Skagit
County CWSP WUCC for approval.
(2) These criteria establish a minimum water system design standard. Each water system in an
urban growth area must comply with the standards of the local government with jurisdiction.
When there are different or conflicting standards, the most stringent standard shall apply.
Prior to the issuance of a development permit, the approving authority shall establish fire flow,
duration and hydrant spacing requirements.
(3) As determined by the appropriate fire official.
(4) Fire flow for individual buildings or groups of buildings is to be determined by the Skagit
County Fire Marshal per Uniform Fire Code Appendix IIIA and the Skagit County Fire
Marshal policy on fire flow. The application of lesser or alternative standards shall be in
accordance with Section 4.3.5 (Interpretation of Standards).
(5) Fire flow will be required for a Conservation and Reserve Development (CaRD) land division as
follows.
CaRD
Characteristics
Fire Flow Requirement
5 or more lots
Option 1:
Fire flow of 500 gpm for 30 minutes with hydrant spacing of
900 ft. or,
Option 2:
Fire Marshal approved fire prevention water system that
provides adequate pressure and flow to support NFPA 13D
sprinkler systems is required for all residential dwellings. In
addition, if the property is located in an Industrial Forest,
Secondary Forest, or Rural Resource designated land the fire
protection requirements as listed in Skagit County Code
14.04.190(14)(b)(iii)(b-e) also apply.
4 or fewer lots
None required, unless the property is located in an Industrial Forest,
Secondary Forest, or Rural Resource designated land. If the property is
located in such designated land the fire protection requirements as listed in
Skagit County Code 14.04.190(14)(b)(iii)(b-e) apply. However, NFPA 13D
sprinklers are only applicable to residential dwellings.
As of the effective date of the CWSP, where in-fill development or extension of an existing water
system occurs to serve an existing platted lot, the Skagit County Fire Marshal may limit the
requirement for fire flow or fire suppression in accordance with Table 4-1 to the newly
developed lot only. Group B public systems may choose to separate the fire flow from water
flow. Separate tank and hydrant(s) location is subject to Skagit County Fire Marshal approval.
(6) Hydrants shall be installed when water lines are installed or replaced and are capable of
supplying a tanker truck with a minimum of 500 gallons per minute at a minimum residual
pressure of 20 psi. Tanker truck filling hydrants are to be located at major roadway
intersections and along roads at a spacing not to exceed one mile to assist in fire protection.
4-45
4.2 Construction Standards
The District’s construction standards are included in Appendix F of this Plan. All work
shall be accomplished in accordance with the requirements of Division 1 through 9 and
the Division 1 APWA supplement of the 2004 edition of the Standard Specifications for
Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction, prepared by the Washington State
Department of Transportation and the American Public Works Association, Washington
State Chapter, including any amendments of said Standard Specifications.
4.3 Hydraulic Analysis
4.3.1 Present Model
In 2003, the District upgraded its hydraulic model to WaterGEMS, a GIS compatible
Haestad Methods product. The new hydraulic model was built by the District’s Planning
Engineer from the District’s Autocad inventory of pipes, USGS digital-elevation-models,
and metered-records of flow demand by pressure zones.
The system is maintained and operated by the Planning Engineer. The District uses
Haestad Methods standard C-factors. The hydraulic model typically predicts flows to
within 10-percent of observed field flow tests. To further calibrate the model, the District
is currently in the process of conducting flow tests in several representative sections of
pipe to verify the Hazen-Williams C-factors chosen for the model.
The District’s model has been used extensively since its in-house development. The
principal use is for the sizing of new waterlines for extensions and plats, specifically to
evaluate fire flow capacity at maximum day demand conditions. It is also useful in
selecting new and replacement pumps based on manufacturer’s pump curves and for
evaluating the diurnal levels of storage reservoirs. The models have been invaluable in
determining the priority in which projects should be included in the Capital Improvement
section of this Plan, based on the immediate benefit of the improvement to the District.
4.4 Description and Analysis by System and Area
4.4.1 Sanitary Surveys
The subsections which follow address the analysis of each system. As required by the
federal Safe Drinking Water Act, Washington State rules (WAC 246-290-416) call for a
routine sanitary survey of all Group A public drinking water systems once every five
years, except for community surface water systems, which are to be surveyed once every
three years. A summary of the District’s sanitary survey results are presented as follows:
4-46
Date of
Sanitary
Survey Key Recommendations
System
Judy
Treatment
Discussion/Resolution
2007
Document coagulant control strategy
Low Cl2 residual alarm
Cross-Connection annual inspection
Clearwells inspection report
Clearwells security
CT re-determination
Distribution
1999
Bulson Road tank roof replacement
Tank O&M and sample points
Coliform Monitoring Plan review
Coord w/ Local govts on Cross-Connections
Designate correct WDM
Skagit River SW Crossing fence repair
Fidalgo Island
Done
In progress
Done
2005
Alger
2005
Cedargrove
2006
Marblemount
2008
Potlatch
2007
Bridgeway Tanks replacement & maint
Similk Tank replacement & maint
Fidalgo Heights overflow
Monitor Cl2 residual
Improve security at tanks
Done
2 monthly samples - no control over source
In progress
Coliform and Cl2 residual testing
Done
Update Certified Operator data
Screen discharge of overflow/drain line
Before & After ATEC Fe and Mang Data
In progress
Done
Screen discharge of overflow/drain line
In progress
Update Certified Operator data
Splashblock discharge of overflow/drain line
Chloride levels for mebrane replacement
Press Relief for Pressure tanks
Monthly Reports to incl RO data
Emergency source procedure for ERP
Map of Coliform sample sites
Cross-Connection plan status report
THM & HAA testing
Rockport
Done
Not replaced - cleaned & inspected in 07
Done
Done
In progress
Done
Done
2006
ATEC treatment report to DOH
Eval Steelhead Park demands
Measure well - drainfield separation dist
Skagit View Village
2005
Copies of the Sanitary Survey reports for Group A water systems are included in
Appendix N.
4.4.2 Judy Reservoir Water System
This portion of the plan addresses source, treatment, transmission/distribution, pressure
zones, storage and fire flow for the entire Judy Reservoir system.
4.4.2.1 Service Area
The Judy Reservoir system has a retail service area including the City’s of Mount
Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro-Woolley; as well as surrounding communities including
4-47
Bow Hill, Bayview, Fir Island, Conway, Big Lake, and Clear Lake. See Figure 2.3 –
Judy System Map.
4.4.2.2 Source
The Judy Reservoir system obtains its water from four streams in the Cultus Mountain
watershed (Gilligan Creek, Salmon Creek, Turner Creek and Mundt Creek). A diversion
pump station underway at the time of the writing of this report will provide raw water
from the Skagit River. The Cultus Mountain watershed starts about two miles due east of
Clear Lake. All the streams in the watershed drain eventually to the Skagit River. A
copy of the District’s Cultus Mountain Watershed Control Program is included in
Appendix J. A watershed control program was written for the Skagit River watershed, in
coordination with the City of Anacortes. This watershed plan is also provided in
Appendix J.
Water is collected from the four Cultus Mountain streams at diversion structures and
transported to an impoundment (Judy Reservoir) through two collector pipelines. The
diversion structures are set up on a bypass system, allowing water to flow past the
diversion. Instream Flows set by Rule under WAC 173-505 limit the diversion quantities
available from each stream based on the month of the year (See Figure 3.2). When the
water measured on a downstream gauge does not meet these minimum flows, the District
will divert water from its supplemental point of diversion on the Skagit River up to the
maximum water right for each stream, as necessary.
Judy Reservoir lies in a natural basin, through which Janicki Creek once flowed. In
1946, Janicki Creek was diverted around the eastern edge of the basin and dams were
constructed with a spill elevation of 437’ AMSL and a capacity of 450 million gallons.
The dams are “A” Dam to the southwest and “B” Dam to the northeast. “B” Dam is
actually two dams on either side a rock knoll. Dams “A” and “B” were raised in 1965 to
increase the Reservoir spill elevation to 451’ AMSL and the capacity to 1,010 million
gallons. The dams were raised again in 1999 to increase the Reservoir spill elevation to
465’ AMSL and the capacity to 1,450 million gallons. Janicki Creek continues to flow in
a new channel along the east side of the Reservoir. It meets Judy Reservoir’s spillway at
the northeast corner of the Reservoir. The spillway empties below the dam into the
existing bed of Janicki Creek, a tributary to the Skagit River. In the past, the stream
water filling Judy Reservoir was adequate to spill the Reservoir for about 5 months of the
year, from February through June, which acted to flush undesirable organics from the
Reservoir that may have accumulated during the other 7 months. The system demands
exceeded inflow from the streams around the end of June, causing the Reservoir pool
level to drop below spill. This trend continued for about 120 days through the peak
demand and low rainfall season, until around the end of October, when stream inflows
exceeded demands and the pool elevation rose. The Reservoir normally reached spill
elevation by the end of January, and the cycle began again. Since its raising in 1965, the
Reservoir has reached its lowest level of 431.6’ AMSL twice, once in 1967 and again in
1987. The calculated drawdown during these two historic lows was about 765 MG,
leaving around 200 MG of usable storage in reserve. In those scenarios, Judy Reservoir
provided an average of 6.4 mgd (765 MG/120 days) during peak drawdown periods, and
4-48
still had 31 days of usable storage (200 MG/6.4 mgd) in reserve. With the recent increase
in Judy Reservoir capacity, and a combination of stream flows and River pumping to
replenish drawdown, the Reservoir will have greater potential to stay full during the year
and providing more readily available capacity for emergencies.
The District has water rights to all four streams, the Skagit River, two groundwater wells
and the Judy Reservoir storage, as indicated in Section 3.
The District also obtains water for the Judy Reservoir system from the City of Anacortes
though interties. These interties are connected to the City’s transmission line system,
which starts from its Water Treatment Plant adjacent to the Skagit River in Mount
Vernon and extends westward to Anacortes on Fidalgo Island. Water is purchased from
the City of Anacortes under the terms of a water contract. The City obtains water from
the Skagit River through its own certificated water rights.
4.4.2.3 Treatment
Raw water from the Judy Reservoir impoundment is pumped to the District’s direct
filtration Water Treatment Plant (WTP) adjacent to Judy Reservoir. The water is
disinfected and filtered to meet current Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requirements.
The WTP currently has a design capacity of 12 million gallons per day (mgd) and a peak
day capacity of 18 mgd. However, improvements underway at the time of the writing of
this plan will increase this capacity to 24 mgd design and 30 mgd peak capacity.
Finished water from the WTP flows by gravity to three storage reservoirs adjacent to the
plant. The reservoirs, typically referred to as the District’s “Clearwells”, have a
combined capacity of 5.69 million gallons and a spill elevation of 459’ AMSL.
The water received through interties from the City of Anacortes is treated at the City’s
conventional WTP, located adjacent to the Skagit River on Riverbend Road in Mount
Vernon.
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners, acting as the Board of Health passed
resolution # R20070284 on May 15, 2007 mandating that the District provide fluoridation
at its Judy Reservoir treatment plant, and at the East and West Bank Interties with
Anacortes. This mandate requires that the fluoride be provided within 12-months of the
resolution signing, on condition that a third party is to pay for the capital costs of the
treatment improvements. At the time of this writing the District remains neutral on the
issue of fluoridation and has not accepted a role as the design contract-administrator for
this project. Skagit County will be working with the third party funding group to secure
capital funds needed for design, permitting, and construction. The District will contract
operate the constructed facilities.
4.4.2.4 Transmission and Distribution Facilities
Finished water from the Clearwells at the Judy Reservoir WTP flows by gravity down to
District customers through a looped transmission pipeline. The transmission pipeline
maintains its high pressure (459’ HGL) to the north across the Skagit River to pressure
4-49
reducing stations in Sedro-Woolley and to the southwest past Clear Lake to pressure
reducing stations in Mount Vernon. Both sets of pressure reducing stations drop the
pressure to about 75 psi (214’ HGL). The transmission pipeline in Sedro-Woolley
continues west at the reduced pressure along SR20 into Burlington and then south along
Burlington Boulevard to the Skagit River Bridge. The transmission pipeline in Mount
Vernon continues north along Riverside Drive to the Skagit River Bridge, where it
connects to the southbound transmission pipeline and completes the loop. The
transmission pipeline loop ranges in size from 16-inches to 30-inches in diameter. The
materials are predominantly concrete cylinder pipe and ductile iron. The loop is vital to
the reliability of the system, ensuring continuity of service even if a high pressure leg of
the transmission line fails or is removed from service.
The transmission pipelines are near capacity for the current peak demands on the system,
and are projected to reach their capacity and the end of their useful life around 2010 for
the WTP/Mount Vernon leg and 2030 for the WTP/Sedro-Woolley/Burlington leg.
Design and permitting for a replacement to the Judy to Mount Vernon transmission
pipeline leg is currently underway. This project may be phased over several years
provided funding is available.
The District serves the Cities of Burlington, Mount Vernon and Sedro-Woolley and the
Town of Clear Lake from the transmission pipeline loop. Distribution lines are gridded
through these areas to provide the necessary domestic and fire flows. Remaining areas in
the Judy Reservoir service area, such as Big Lake, Conway, Avon, Bay View, Allen,
Samish Island, Bow Hill and the rural areas around them, are served by a system of long
distribution lines. Distribution lines are normally smaller than transmission lines, ranging
from 4 though 12-inches in diameter. The District’s total footage of transmission and
distribution mains in the Judy Reservoir and Fidalgo Island systems combined was
approximately 350 miles as of 1992; the 2006 total was approximately 563 miles. Table
4-2 below indicates how the District has utilized various materials over the years and the
approximate quantities of each material type which are still in use.
Table 4.2 Judy System Active Pipe Inventory by Installation Date
Judy System - Inventory of Lengths of Pipes in System by Installation Date and Material Type
Pipe Material (ft)
Conc.
Cylinder
Pipe
Cast
Ductile Galv PVC or
AC
(CCP)
Iron Copper
Iron
Iron Plastic Steel Total (ft) Total (mi)
Year Installed ABS
285
1000
1,285
0.2
1930-1939
300
2233
79
213
2,825
0.5
1940-1949
19351
649
152
20,152
3.8
1950-1959
62 124639
8011
654
341 26456
366 160,529
30.4
1960-1969
432 289521
61863
5759
210873 1040 569,488
107.9
1970-1979
144077
33513
39785
568 316290
534,233
101.2
1980-1989
2831
120
141599
251479
5 396,034
75.0
1990-1999
832527
20719
853,246
161.6
2000-Present
188294
4556
192,850
36.5
**The District's CAD maps identify a total of 563-miles of pipe in the Judy System 46-miles more than presented above due to information gaps in the database.
4-50
All the original wood stave water lines have been replaced. The District’s current
standard for pipe material is Class 50 ductile iron. The transmission and distribution
systems are generally considered adequate for the domestic and fire demands of the
current water system.
The District’s distribution lines are adequate for the majority of the District’s service area
during much of the year. The District began service in the cities and rural areas when
populations were more sparse and fire flow was not a District concern. City populations
have increased and moved to higher topography, fire codes have increased required
flows, and rural demands have increased, making the once adequate waterlines
undersized. Peak demands, especially in remote rural areas, cause frictional pipeline
losses and result in low pressures. To rectify these deficiencies, the District used the
computer model to develop a gridding plan for the urban and rural areas. This “pregrid”
is consistent with local land use projections and will provide adequate domestic service
and required fire flows for the foreseeable future. This ‘pregrid’ for the Judy system is
roughly illustrated in Figures 4.1.
4-51
4-52
The District analyzed the performance of its distribution system utilizing its hydraulic
model. The model produces information within the parameters listed below:
Table 4.3 – Hydraulic Characteristics of Judy Distribution System
Pressure
Meets
Lowest Highest PHD?
HGL
195
210
214
284
290
322
356
365
413
420
430
456
459
463
506
520
560
592
645
684
858
30
40
30
30
60
30
30
50
50
50
30
40
40
60
30
30
30
40
40
40
30
80
80
80
105
90
100
115
130
100
90
100
160
160
115
130
120
160
170
80
170
80
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Meets
Fire flow? Comments
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
All service connections in all of the District’s water systems are metered. The District’s
20 peak consumers are as indicated in Table 4-4 below:
Table 4.4 – Largest Customers Served by District
PEAK MONTHLY CONSUMERS
Customer Name
Service Type
Draper Valley Farms
Advanced H20 Inc
Northwest Horticulture
Samish Farms Water Assoc
Skagit Gardens Inc
Sakuma Bros Farms Inc
Eaglemont Golf Club
Washington Bulb Company
Skagit Valley Mobile Manor
Tim White
Commercial
Commercial
Irrigation
Re-Sale
Irrigation
Commercial
Irrigation
Commercial
Multi-Family
Commercial
Winter Peak Summer Peak
(ccf)
(ccf)
30782
28507
14643
16753
3781
24490
5290
10384
1733
12810
1746
12895
2462
9585
2187
5702
4208
4305
3463
3141
Withdrawals to fill tank trucks are also allowed from fire hydrants at various locations
around the District. These withdrawals are by permit only, are metered with special
meters issued by the District, and require notification of the local fire department or fire
district.
4-53
Pressure Reducing Valve and Booster Pump Stations. PRV and Booster Pump
Stations are used throughout the District’s water systems to compensate for high
pressures and low pressures.
PRVs are used to reduce the water pressure from a higher pressure gradient to serve a
lower pressure gradient, serving from transmission to distribution systems and from
higher to lower distribution pressure zones. PRVs which serve distribution grids from the
transmission line loop are usually set based on the spill elevation of storage reservoirs in
the receiving pressure zone, to refill storage which may have been diminished by daytime
demands. PRVs which serve between distribution pressure zones are usually set slightly
below the static pressure of the receiving pressure zone, intended to open only for high
demand conditions such as fire flow.
The District has established its pressure zones to maintain an average range of 40 to 80
psi at the customers’ services. Pressures above 80 psi can damage a customer’s plumbing
and hot water heater: the District advises its customers of the plumbing code
requirements for installation of an individual PRV on each customer’s service that has
pressure greater than 80 psi. The District’s major PRV stations have dual PRVs in
parallel: a small PRV for average flow conditions and a larger PRV for peak flow and fire
flow conditions.
The District has installed booster pump stations at various locations around the District as
required to raise water pressure from a lower to a higher gradient and/or to compensate
for frictional pipeline losses. With few exceptions, these booster pump stations are low
capacity and provide only domestic service. The Bow Hill and Fir/Waugh Pump Stations
and the WTP pumps have the capacity to provide limited fire flow without storage
assistance, although storage is available in all three cases.
See Tables 4.5 and 4.6 for complete lists of current pressure reducing and booster
stations. Tables 4.7 and 4.8 provide current lists of storage tanks.
4-54
PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT No.1 of SKAGIT COUNTY
CONTROL VALVES
PWS Area
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
FI
FI
FI
FI
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
BV
BV
BV
BV
BV
BV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
MV
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
Location
[email protected]
BayMeadows@JoshWilson
Lefeber - Higgins@Peterson
Higgins@Peterson
Peterson@Sunrise
Peterson@Sunrise
18th@TL (north)
18th@TL (south)
9th @ WilliamWy
9th&Highland
Anderson@Blodgett
BennettRd@Avon
Blodgett@RedHawkCt
Blodgett@RedHawkCt
CascadeRidge
CascadeRidge
CascadeRidge
CascadeRidge
College@LaVenture
DraperValleyFarms
E.CollegeWay (214)
E.CollegeWay (214)
Hickox@Burkland
Hoag@LaVenture
Hoag@LaVenture
KulshanView
LaVenture@TL
LittleMountainBooster
N.15th
N.15th
[email protected]
[email protected]
Kulshan at 9th
Kulshan at 9th
[email protected]
Section @ Digby
Section E. of Digby
Section E. of Digby
Section E. of Digby
Section@ Laventure
Sioux@Shoshone
Skyridge Dr
Waugh@TL
Waugh@TL
4th@Washington
4th@Washington
Hoxie Ln at Carolina
Hoxie Ln at Carolina
Austin@BeaverLkRd
BayViewRidge Resrvr
BeaverLakeRd(ClrLk)
BeaverLakeRd(ClrLk)
PRV
Mfr
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Control
Valve
Model Size
HGL
In Out In
Pressure
Maximum
ElevationNormalDate placed
Static Out Q Out gpm (AMSL)Position in service C.O.#
90
8
345 290 139
115
90
4
290 270 80
52
90
6
345 290 100
100
50
3
235 75
90
2T 290 235 100
75
90
6T 290 235 100
75
90
4
459 214 171
72
90
4
459 322 171
110
90
6
459 214 186
80
90
12 459 214 123
18
90
6
322 195 127
74
90
8
345 233 139
90
90
1.5T 322 214 129
74
90
6T 322 214 129
74
90
6
858 720 121
61
68
322 322 68
322 592 68
592 858 90
8
322 214 104
50
90
6
459 PRIVATE
90
3T 459 214 174
67
90
8T 459 214 174
67
90
8
322 195 127
55
90
1.5T 322 214 99
68
90
6T 322 214 99
68
90
8
322 214 106
55
90
8
459 322 165
109
90
6
463 322
140
90
1
322
105
60
90
1
322
105
60
90
2T 345 214 150 On / Off
90
10T 345 214 150 On / Off
90
6T 459 214 184
75
90
10T 459 214 184
75
90
4
322 214 113
65
PSV
4
560 420
55
90
3T 560 420
55
90
8T 560 420
55
50
4
560 420
55
90
6
420 322
47
90
3
560 322 129
90
3
463 322 123
60
90
4
459 322 172
107
90
6
560 459
90
2T 318 200 94
43
90
4T 318 200 94
43
90
2T 430 370
90
6T 430 370
90
2
459 284 180
70
210-3
8
290 290
90
2T 459 365 180
140
90
6T 459 365 180
140
4-55
115
52
100
85
75
65
62
100
80
18
74
80
64
54
51
40
25
160
114
114
114
114
55
55
29
167
30
25
25
25
578
83
67
57
55
68
58
45
109
130
60
60
75
75
55
45
55
45
65
37
30
50
107
3900
1000
2250
570
260
2250
1000
1000
2250
8600
2250
3900
190
2250
2250
3900
2250
570
3900
3900
190
2250
3900
3900
2250
115
115
260
3250
2250
6000
1000
1000
570
3900
1000
2250
570
570
1000
252
180
54
NC
NC
NO
O/S
43
570
570
100
100
NO
NO
70
260
3900
2500
2500
35
NO
43
43
NO
NO
140
130
49
49
30
93
93
77
71
79
79
25
25
26
26
60
NO
NO
NO
NC
NO
NO
NC
NC
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NC
NC
NC
NO
NC
NO
NO
NC
NC
NO
NO
NC
1983
2007
1975
1994
1994
1994
1979
1979
1998
1975
1987
1985
1962
1962
1992
1996
1985
1977
1977
1998
1978
1978
1980
1958
1967
1979
1979
1993
1993
2005
2005
1978
Remarks
3006 Intertie
2505
3623
3623
3623
2796
2796
Intertie
ReliefValve
Moved 2007
Moved 2007
Standby
Standby
2448
3188
3135
1641
1641
3364
3364
3364
3364
Qin=200gpmMAX
Intertie
Pump Control
Pump Control
Pump Control
3088
2688
2688
Conway Svc
2736
2736
2894
1351
1969
2826
2826
3463 Intertie
3463 Intertie
2770
Relief Valve
1973
1967
1979
2006
1986
1986
2006
2006
1996
1998
1990
1990
2368
1969
2806
Standby
3158
3158
3287
3287
PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT No.1 of SKAGIT COUNTY
CONTROL VALVES
PWS Area
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
FI
FI
Judy
FI
FI
FI
FI
Alger
MtnVw
MtnVw
MtnVw
MtnVw
FI
FI
FI
FI
FI
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
Judy
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
SW
R
R
R
R
R
R
BT
BT
BT
Location
BeaverLakeRd(GundRd)
BeaverLakeRd(GundRd)
Front St (ClrLk)
Maple St (ClrLk)
BigLake Reservoir (W)
BigLake Reservoirs (E)
BowHill Pump Sta
BowHill Pump Sta Pump Cntrl
Bradshaw @ Summer
Buchanan@Magnolia
Buchanan@Maple
GibralterRd
GibralterRd
HoogdalReservoir
Jura@GibralterN
Jura@GibralterS
Central at Deception
Central at Deception
LakeSamishRd Reservoir
MtnViewRd(NE)
MtnViewRd(SE)
MtnViewRd(NW)
MtnViewRd(SW)
SalmonBeachRd
Stevenson @ Thompson
Stevenson @ Thompson
Stevenson @ Saterlee Road
Stevenson @ Saterlee Road
BassettRd @ SR9
BassettRd @ SR9
BassettRd @ SR9
DukesHillReservoir
DukesHillReservoir
DukesHillReservoir
KallochRd @ SR9
Nelson@TL
Nelson@TL
NSMSC
NSMSC
NSMSC
Township @ Marie Pl
Township@TL
Township@TL
Cook Rd & Collins Rd
Cook Rd & Collins Rd
Cook Rd & District Line Rd
Cook Rd & District Line Rd
Cook Rd & Gardner Rd
Cook Rd & Gardner Rd
North Hill Boulevard
North Hill Boulevard
North Hill Boulevard
PRV
Mfr
Control
Valve
Model Size
2T
6T
6
2
8
8
HGL
In Out In
Clayton
Clayton
90
90
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Gay
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
210-3
210-3
CKV
68
CKV
90
CKV
50
50
210-3
90
90
90
90
210-3
90
90
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
Clayton
50
6
200
Auto Shut-off
90
1.5T 345 270 129
96
90
4T 345 270 129
96
90
2T
90
4T
90
2T 459 340 112
86
90
8T 459 340 112
86
50
3
340
86
90
6
340 214 65
10
210-3
6
214 214 10
10
90
6
459 340 117
65
90
8
459 430 95
93
90
6T 459 214 177
82
90
12T 459 214 177
82
90
2T 459
90
90
6T 459
90
50
4
459
90
90
8
340 214 104
49
90
3T 459 214 177
72
90
8T 459 214 177
72
90
2T 459 214
90
6T 459 214
90
2T 459 214
90
6T 459 214
90
2T 459 214
90
6T 459 214
90
459 290
90
459 290
90
459 214
6
6
2
2
6
2
3
2T
6T
8
3
3
459
459
365
365
356
356
214
356
356
284
284
356
356
456
214
365
284
200
200
430
318
318
340
340
520
214
ElevationNormalDate placed
Pressure
Maximum
Static Out Q Out gpm (AMSL)Position in service C.O.#
180
180
150
100
13
145
145
110
80
13
Remarks
O/S
145
2500
2500
43
43
NO
NO
1990
1990
3287
3287
13
3900
327
NO
1993
3427
9
260
260
2250
RELIEF
570
90
90
410
100
60
NO
NO
NO
NC
NO
1993
1993
1993
1973
1973
2007
2007
3391 AutoShutoff
3391 AutoShutoff
3555
2344 ReliefValve
2344
50
50
50
NO
NO
NC
1993
2000
2000
3391 AutoShutoff
Intertie
Intertie
200
200
200
190
190
190
240
43
43
NC
NC
NC
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
1993
1993
1993
1993
1993
1993
1993
1977
1977
3555
3555
3555
3555
3555
3555
3555
2609
2609
45
365
Auto Shut-off
Auto Shut-off
430
9
9
94
35
112
35
200
200
520
TBD
50
50
4-56
3900
50
50
96
86
2250
190
1000
86
260
76
3900
96 RELIEF
10
2250
10
2250
65
2250
93
3900
82
2250
72
8600
90
260
85
2250
100 1000
49
3900
72
570
62
3900
NSMSC svc
NSMSC svc
NSMSC svc
100
43
43
NC
NO
NO
1994
1977
1977
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007
2007
3568
2609
2609
4-57
4-58
4-59
Pressure Zones
Individual pressure zones (hydraulic grade) for the Judy Reservoir System are indicated
on Figure 4.1. These pressure zones are analyzed in greater detail in the sections which
follow.
195’ HGL (Conway – Fir Island).
The 195’ HGL pressure zone is supplied from the 214’ HGL supply along Dike Road
which is 6-inch and 8-inch plastic and ductile iron. This feed is projected to supply about
half the average demand to the Conway area but less than half of the peak months’
demands due to system hydraulics. Additional feed comes from the 220’ HGL zone by
way of a PRV station on the east side of Interstate 5 at Conway. Because of the areas flat
topography, the 195’ HGL zone does not have a reservoir within the zone. The standby
and equalizing storage for the zone comes from the Bulson Tank, a 100,000 gallon
storage reservoir on Bulson Road east of Conway. This tank only supports during fire
flow events due to the Hickox Road PRV being set to a 220’ HGL. The Bulson
Reservoir is re-supplied from the 322’ HGL pressure zone in Mount Vernon by way of
the Hickox Road PRV station in south Mount Vernon. Standby storage to this zone is
also provided by the 9th and Highland tank in Mount Vernon.
The 195’ HGL pressure zone serves the agricultural area south of Mount Vernon
bordering the Dike Road, the rural village of Conway, as well as Fir Island and North Fir
Island Water Association, all west of Interstate 5. The area is predominantly flat alluvial
plain, and pipelines are predominantly AC and plastic. Some recent improvements and
planned future improvements are of ductile iron pipe, and potentially HDPE. Fir Island is
currently the most remote point in the Judy Reservoir System, however, water quality
monitoring consistently provides satisfactory results. Demands are predominantly
residential and agricultural, and peak during the dry summer months due to irrigation
requirements.
220’ HGL (Hickox S, E. Conway).
The 220’ HGL pressure zone is supplied from the Hickox Road PRV on the south side of
the Mount Vernon 322’ HGL zone. The growth in the Conway area, especially in the
Foothills around Lake 16, has prompted the District to consider changes to the pressure
zones in the area. The Hickox Road PRV station may be removed or the pressure
increased, allowing the 322’ HGL pressure zone to extend to Conway and serve the area.
The Hickox Road PRV is normally set at about 80 psi, but can be boosted to 90 psi or
more in the summer to overcome frictional head loss in the 4 miles of 6, 8 and 12-inch
pipe from Mount Vernon to Conway due to increased summer demand flows.
The distribution system can currently meet fire flow requirements as outlined in Table 41 for a rural area.
The Bulson Reservoir will eventually be removed and a new storage reservoir
constructed with a 322’ AMSL spill elevation. The Bulson Booster Station would still
serve the 413’ HGL pressure zone (see “413’ HGL (Hermway Heights)” later in this
4-60
section), but may be relocated. The new extended 322’ HGL zone would supplement the
supply to the 214’ HGL pressure zone, which would be extended to Conway and Fir
Island and across the bridge on the North Fork of the Skagit River. Capital projects
reflecting some of these improvements are presented in Section 5.
210’ HGL (Pleasant Ridge).
The 210’ HGL pressure zone is served from the 214’ HGL pressure zone by a booster
station at Rudene Road, near the northeast corner of Pleasant Ridge. Undersized
distribution piping, along with residential growth on Pleasant Ridge and increased
irrigation consumption in the 214’ HGL pressure zone to the north have caused low
pressure problems in the Pleasant Ridge area during peak summer demands. The static
pressure is normally about 50 psi at the highest service on Pleasant Ridge, but drops to
approximately 20 psi during periods of peak summer demands. The District responded in
mid-1994 by re-establishing a booster pump system to serve this area. The original
booster station at Bradshaw Road was removed from service after waterline replacements
in the area improved flows and pressures. The relocated booster system at Rudene Road
serves Pleasant Ridge, a small rocky knoll that rises about 100 feet above the alluvial
plain. The distribution system is predominantly plastic with some ductile iron water
lines. System demands are predominantly residential.
There is currently no storage on Pleasant Ridge, though construction of a storage
reservoir is tentatively scheduled for this planning period. The booster station is
considered a temporary seasonal measure until waterline replacements indicated in
Section 5 are complete, improving system flows and stabilizing system pressures
throughout the year. The booster station operates primarily during the summer months;
the 210’ HGL pressure zone is served by the 214’ HGL pressure zone without assistance
from the Rudene Booster Station for the balance of the year. Previously the District has
discussed a water system connection with the Town of LaConner, which could also
provide increased flows and pressures to the Pleasant Ridge area.
214’ HGL (Skagit Valley floor).
The 214’ HGL Pressure zone serves the cities of Sedro-Woolley, Burlington and Mount
Vernon and the rural areas adjacent to them. The 214’ HGL pressure zone is served
principally through the 5 million gallon Dukes Hill Reservoir in Sedro-Woolley, and the
5 million gallon 9th & Highland Reservoir in Mount Vernon. Both reservoirs have a
regulated inflow from the 459’ HGL transmission pipeline system, though their outflow
is based strictly on demand. The reservoirs draw down during the day as demands
exceed inflow, then refill at night as demands relax and inflow exceeds demands. Both
reservoirs have an operating range of less than 5 feet. The Dukes Hill Reservoir is more
remote and is fitted with high and low level alarms, annunciated through an automatic
telephone dialer. The middle of the transmission line loop, operating at distribution
pressures from Sedro-Woolley through Burlington to the middle of Mount Vernon, is
served by both the Dukes Hill and 9th & Highland Reservoirs, supplemented at the north
end by the PRV station at 1st and Nelson Streets in Sedro-Woolley. Normal high
demands in the 214’ HGL system are supplemented by PRV stations on the 459’ HGL
transmission line at East College Way and William Way in Mount Vernon and at
4-61
Township Street in Sedro-Woolley, and from the 322’ HGL pressure zone from PRV
stations at the intersection of Hoag and LaVenture Roads and at Blodgett Road in Mount
Vernon. Additional PRV stations are set to respond to unusually high demands, such as
from fire flows. These PRV stations are at north Township Street in Sedro-Woolley and
near Riverside Drive, Kulshan View, the intersection of 18th Street and Kulshan, and the
intersection of Sandlewood and north 18th Street in Mount Vernon. The piping network
in and out of the Dukes Hill Reservoir in Sedro-Woolley was designed to allow 214’
HGL water to return to the 459’ HGL system for any emergency situation requiring the
shutdown of the 459’ HGL supply: this would provide minimum pressures and flows to
local residents for survival purposes. An additional leg of the transmission loop was
added on along Cook Road, allowing a feed to the 214 pressure zone at Rhodes Road,
and a standby feed at North Hill Boulevard.
As shown in Section 5, the District proposes a new emergency booster station at the
Dukes Hill site to serve the 459’ HGL pressure zone from the 214’ HGL pressure zone,
using the 5 million gallons of storage as a source. Also, the District proposes a new 214
HGL tank on Burlington Hill to provide additional standby storage for 214 zone north of
the Skagit River.
As a backup, water from the 214’ HGL pressure zone can be boosted at the 9th and
Highland Reservoir site to serve the 322’ HGL pressure zone in Mount Vernon, at the
intersection of Avon-Allen and Peterson Roads to serve the Bay View Ridge area. There
are also booster pump stations at Rudene Road to serve Pleasant Ridge, and at the
intersection of Cook Road and Chuckanut Drive to serve the area north of Bay View
Ridge. These booster stations are for seasonal or emergency use only, and are not
required routinely. The Bow Hill Pump Station north of Burlington lifts the 214’ HGL
water to serve the areas north of Bow Hill Road, currently including the Upper Skagit
Tribe’s Casino and Hotel facility and the Washington DOT Bow Hill Rest Areas in the
456’ HGL pressure zone; the pump station was designed with the lift capacity to serve
the Alger area and around Lake Samish.
The 214’ HGL pressure zone can receive supplemental water from two interties with the
City of Anacortes water system: the Avon intertie can augment the supply to the 214’
HGL pressure zone to the west and north of the Skagit River (Sedro-Woolley, Burlington
and down to Pleasant Ridge); the Riverbend intertie can augment the supply to the 214’
HGL pressure zone east of the Skagit River (Mount Vernon, Conway and Fir Island).
These interties are used to augment the Judy Reservoir system supply based on current
and projected levels of Judy Reservoir for a particular time of year, historical Reservoir
level trends and weather projections.
The majority of the existing distribution system in the 214’ HGL pressure zone is a mix
of 8 through 12-inch ductile iron pipe installed after 1980 and 4 through 8-inch AC and
plastic pipe installed between 1960 and 1980. The general condition of the system is
good, and it can generally meet fire flow requirements outlined in Table 4-1. Increased
irrigation demands on the 6- and 8-inch distribution system on the alluvial plain west of
Mount Vernon and the Skagit River has caused low pressure problems on Pleasant Ridge.
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The proposed “pre-grid” distribution main loop from Mount Vernon through Conway and
back to Mount Vernon, is expected to dramatically reduce pressure losses and eventually
eliminate the need for the Rudene Road Booster Station for the Pleasant Ridge area; a
new storage reservoir proposed for Pleasant Ridge will also help reduce low pressure
complaints.
290’ HGL (Bay View Ridge).
The 290’ HGL pressure zone area is currently three distinct pressure zones, served by the
District with water supplied by the City of Anacortes water system.
1.
The Port of Skagit County and Bay View Business and Industrial Park is served
from an intertie on the City of Anacortes’ transmission line at the Lefeber Bulb Farm on
Memorial Highway, west of Mount Vernon. The system currently receives water through
a solenoid-controlled PRV station, controlled through the District’s SCADA system
based on level of the new 2.9 million gallon Bay View Ridge Reservoir. When the
Reservoir draws down to a preset level, the SCADA system opens the Lefeber PRV and
refills the Reservoir; when the Reservoir is full, the SCADA system shuts the PRV off.
During a power outage, the Lefeber PRV would fail to an open position, which would
refill the Reservoir and then close the altitude valve. The PRV setting will prevent overpressuring the 290’ HGL pressure zone.
The 290’ HGL pressure zone is also served by the Fredonia PRV station at the southwest
corner of the pressure zone. This area was previously stand-alone with its own connection
to the Anacortes transmission system. The District connected this area to the 290’ HGL
pressure zone and it is served by the Bay View Ridge Reservoir. The Fredonia PRV
station provides backup supply in case of distribution system isolation, shutdown of the
Bay View Ridge Reservoir, large peaking demands, closure / failure of the Lefeber PRV
station, or any combination thereof.
2.
The rural village of Bay View on Padilla Bay is served a moderate inflow by a
PRV station from the Bay View Ridge 290’ HGL pressure zone. The 300,000 gallon Bay
View Standpipe, operating at 270’ HGL, draws down during the day as demands exceed
inflow from the PRV station, and refills at night as demands relax and supply exceeds
demands. A seismic vulnerability assessment indicated that the Bay View Standpipe is
inadequately anchored and recommended repairs.
3.
The Skagit Golf and Country Club is also served from the Bay View Ridge 290’
HGL pressure zone through a PRV station, and operates at about 234’ HGL. Until early
1994, the Country Club was served by the 214’ HGL pressure zone. A seismic
vulnerability assessment indicated that the local 214’ HGL storage reservoir did not meet
current seismic design criteria. With the pressure upgrade to 234’ HGL, the reservoir
was demolished and local pump station at Peterson Road was fitted with a pressure relief
valve. In a situation where the water is unavailable from the 290’ HGL pressure zone,
the Peterson Road pump station can support the demands of the Country Club pressure
zone from the 214’ HGL pressure zone.
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These three subsystems were separate in 1994, and a stated objective of the 1994 Water
System Plan was to connect all four into a single distribution system with a single storage
reservoir. The Bay View Ridge Reservoir was completed and the subsystems linked in
1999.
The District is in the process of completing a high pressure transmission pipeline along
Cook Road, which will bring high pressure water to Old Highway 99 on the east side of
Interstate 5 near Burlington. The District plans to extend high pressure service north
along the Old Highway 99 alignment in existing pipelines to Bow Hill, and distribution
service could be continued south in the existing transmission pipeline through Burlington
to Mount Vernon, supporting the transmission pipeline loop.
Along Old Highway 99 north, the high pressure is planned to be branched across
Chuckanut Drive and along Josh Wilson Road to Bay View Ridge. This would provide
gravity supply from Judy Reservoir to the Bay View Ridge 290’ HGL pressure zone, and
provide potential for emergency backup to the City of Anacortes, the Town of LaConner
and the District’s Fidalgo Island system. At Bow Hill, it could reduce the lift
requirements to provide service to the Bow Hill and Alger areas, reducing the District’s
cost of operations.
284’ HGL (Clear Lake North).
The 284’ HGL pressure zone is served principally from the 500,000 gallon Clear Lake
Reservoir located on a bench on the hillside northeast of the community of Clear Lake.
The reservoir is filled by a connection to the 459’ HGL transmission pipeline to the east
along Old Day Creek Road. The rectangular cast-in-place concrete reservoir was
originally a two-chamber settling basin for raw water collected from the Cultus mountain
streams for the Clear Lake water system, prior to District ownership. The reservoir has
been modified to become a single hydraulic chamber: water enters one end and leaves the
opposite end, ensuring adequate turnover.
The reservoir remains sound, however, given its age and questionable seismic resistance,
the District plans to retire the tank. When the tank is retired, the 284 HGL zone will be
supplied by a PRV which would be provided water from the Judy to Mount Vernon
transmission pipeline.
The 284’ HGL pressure zone can provide water to the adjacent 365’ HGL pressure zone
through a check valve on Maple Street if the 365’ zone loses its source and drops in
pressure. Demands in the 284’ HGL pressure zone are predominantly domestic with a
few commercial services in town and agricultural services in outlying areas. The 284’
HGL pressure zone serves the northeast three-quarters of Clear Lake and along Francis
Road up to Nookachamps Creek.
The distribution system is predominantly 6-inch plastic and AC mains, and is adequate to
meet both peak hour domestic needs and appropriate fire flows as indicated in Table 4-1.
Demands are mostly residential with a few commercial services.
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322’ HGL (Mount Vernon).
The 322’ HGL pressure zone is served by the 1 million gallon East Division Reservoir at
the corner of Digby Road and Division Street in Mount Vernon. The pressure zone is
large, and demands are supplemented to the west and north of the Division Street
Reservoir by PRV stations at 9th Street, 18th Street, LaVenture Road and Waugh Road
from the 459’ HGL transmission pipeline. The Reservoir draws down during the day as
demands increase and refills in the evening as demands subside. Demands are primarily
single family and multifamily residential, with various commercial and public services
dispersed throughout the pressure zone.
The 322’ HGL pressure zone also can supply water to and receive water from adjacent
pressure zones. It can receive water from the 420’ HGL pressure zone to the southeast by
a PRV station at the corner of Section and Laventure. The Sioux/Shoshone Pressure
Sustaining Valve station can provide supply back from the 560’ HGL pressure zone to
the 322’ HGL pressure zone at peak demands, though it is currently valved closed. The
Skyridge Pump Station on east Anderson Road in south Mount Vernon serves the 463’
HGL Skyridge area; the PRV stations at east Anderson Road and Skyridge Drive provide
supply back to the 322’ HGL’ pressure zone from the 463’ HGL zone at peak demands.
The 322’ HGL pressure zone is the source for the East Blackburn and Cedar Hills
booster/pressure tank systems, serving small subdivisions on the north foot of Little
Mountain in south Mount Vernon. Both are considered temporary systems and are
expected to be removed when a new 12-inch water main is installed down Blackburn
Road, providing increased pressure and storage from the 560’ HGL pressure zone to
these subdivisions and to the 322’ HGL pressure zone through new PRV stations. The
Cascade Ridge area, a large residential development completed in 1992 south Mount
Vernon on Stackpole Road, includes a series of booster stations and storage reservoirs
(supplied by the 322’ HGL pressure zone. The facilities include a small booster station
and a 75,000 gallon storage reservoir to the 322’ HGL pressure zone, plus two other
booster stations and two other reservoirs for higher zones.
The distribution system in the 322’ HGL pressure zone is generally good. It is strong in
the center of the zone with 16, 12 and 10-inch distribution mains on LaVenture Road and
12-inch mains on Section Street, Division Street, Fir Street, 15th Street and Waugh Road.
The remaining grid is a mixture of 12, 10, 8, 6 and 4-inch mains that are adequate for the
peak hour domestic demands and have the capacity to provide the appropriate fire flows
indicated in Table 4-1.
The 322’ HGL pressure zone formerly served a gradual slope in the eastern end of Mount
Vernon, which experienced low peak hour pressures (35± psi). The District has
transitioned this area into a 420’ HGL pressure zone in between the 322’ HGL and 560’
HGL pressure zones. The East Blackburn pressure system discussed earlier will be
absorbed into the 560’ HGL pressure zone; the Cedar Hills pressure system will be
absorbed into the 420’ HGL pressure zone. The 420’ HGL pressure zone is served by
PRV stations from the 560’ HGL pressure zone and provides service as required to the
322’ HGL pressure zone at Section Street through a PRV station.
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The aforementioned Division Street tank has inadequate standby storage to meet the
demands of the 322’ HGL pressure zone. Currently the 560’ tank at Eaglemont, or the
emergency pump station at 9th and Highland must support this zone during an emergency
where the source is lost. To correct this issue a new tank is planned at the Division Steet
site as described in Section 5.
356’ HGL (Clear Lake South and Big Lake).
The 356’ HGL pressure zone is served by four storage reservoirs. The 500,000 gallon
Nookachamps Hills Reservoir serves Beaver Lake and Gunderson Roads, Otter Pond
Drive, all south of Clear Lake, and the north end of Big Lake. The distribution system on
the east side of Big Lake is served by two reservoirs totaling 140,000 gallons. The
distribution system on the west side of Big Lake is served by the 140,000 gallon West
Big Lake Reservoir. All four of the reservoirs are served by a PRV station from the 459’
HGL transmission line on Beaver Lake Road in Clear Lake. The PRV station is quite
remote from the demands on the system, so the reservoirs act as the primary supply: they
draw down during the day as demands increase and refill at night when demands are low.
Demands in this pressure zone are predominantly single family residential with a few
commercial, multifamily and public services scattered throughout. The distribution
system in the 356’ HGL pressure zone is predominantly of 12 and 8-inch ductile iron and
is quite adequate, able to meet the appropriate fire flows indicated in Table 4-1.
An existing pump station adjacent to the Nookachamps Hills Reservoir currently serves a
small 450’ HGL pressure zone. Development may expand this zone, and a storage
reservoir will be required.
365’ HGL (Southwest Clear Lake)
The 365’ HGL pressure zone is served by the 1 million gallon Buchanan Hill Reservoir,
serving the southwest quarter of Clear Lake and able to supplement peak demands of the
adjacent 284’ HGL pressure zone through PRV stations on Buchanan Street at Cedar
Street. The reservoir is served by a PRV station from the 459’ HGL transmission
pipeline on Beaver Lake Road in Clear Lake (separate from the PRV serving the 356’
HGL pressure zone). The PRV station is remote from the demands on the system, so the
reservoir acts as the primary supply: it draws down during the day as demands increase
and refills at night when demands are low. Demands in this pressure zone are
predominantly residential. The distribution system in the 365’ HGL pressure zone is
predominantly of 8-inch ductile iron pipe and is able to meet the appropriate fire flows
indicated in Table 4-1. The 365’ HGL pressure zone may also at some future date
support the adjacent 356’ HGL pressure zone south of Clear Lake by closing the main
valve to the 459’ HGL transmission line and installing a bypass at the 365’ HGL PRV
station. Both systems would then effectively operate at 356’ HGL and serve off their
storage only.
413’ HGL (Hermway Heights).
The 413’ HGL pressure zone east of Conway is served by the 60,000 gallon Hermway
Heights Reservoir. The Hermway Heights Reservoir is filled from the 220’ HGL
pressure zone by the Bulson Pump Station on Bulson Road, next to the Bulson Road
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Reservoir. The pump station operates on a time clock, allowing the reservoir to draw
down during the day and refill at night. District operators keep track of the reservoir
levels and adjust for periods of high demand (see Section 9). Demands on the 413’ HGL
pressure zone are predominantly single-family residential. The distribution system is
adequately sized for present domestic use, with newer lines being 8-inch ductile iron and
remaining lines being 2 and 3-inch plastic; a hydrant on the larger line from the Hermway
Heights Reservoir is sized to allow for rural fire flows per Table 4-1. The 413’ HGL
pressure zone also serves as supply for the adjacent 684’ HGL pressure zone, supplying
the Lake Sixteen Pump Station through an 8-inch ductile iron main along SR534.
The District has reviewed the system hydraulics in consort with land use in the Lake
Sixteen area and proposes to increase the hydraulic gradient from 413’ HGL to
approximately 485’ HGL; the 485’ HGL pressure zone proposed works well with the
existing 684’ HGL pressure zone and the proposed increase of the 195’ HGL pressure
zone to 322’ HGL. This increase from 413’ HGL to 485’ HGL will increase the service
area without adding another pressure zone. The upgrade is currently unscheduled, but
will most likely be driven by development of property in the area, and would be primarily
at the developer’s expense though the District would likely contribute to the upsizing of a
new reservoir.
420’ HGL (Central Mount Vernon)
The 322’ HGL pressure zone formerly served a gradual slope in the eastern end of Mount
Vernon, which experienced low peak hour pressures (35± psi). The District transitioned
this area into a 420’ HGL pressure zone in between the 322’ HGL and 560’ HGL
pressure zones. The Cedar Hills pressure system currently in the 322’ HGL pressure
zone will be absorbed into the 420’ HGL pressure zone. The 420’ HGL pressure zone is
served by PRV stations from the 560’ HGL pressure zone and provides service to the
322’ HGL pressure zone at Section Street through a PRV station as required.
The 420’ HGL pressure zone does not have its own storage; the 5 million gallon
Eaglemont Reservoir has sufficient storage capacity to also serve the 420’ HGL pressure
zone. Demands in the 420’ HGL pressure zone are predominantly residential. The
distribution system is a grid of 12-inch and 8-inch ductile iron pipe. Strategically-placed
PRV’s support average, peak hour and fire flow demands, served from the 560’ HGL
pressure to the 420’ HGL zone, through to the 322’ HGL pressure zone as required.
Check valves have been located off the 322’ HGL pressure zone at LaVenture Road and
off the 420’ HGL pressure zone at the Maddox Creek Plat to provide emergency service
back to the 420’ HGL and 560’ HGL pressure zones, respectively, in case of pressure
loss in those upper zones.
430’ HGL (Hoogdal).
The 430’ HGL pressure zone north of Sedro-Woolley is served by the 100,000 gallon
Hoogdal Reservoir. The Reservoir is filled from the 459’ HGL pressure zone by a PRV
station at the intersection of Kalloch Road and SR9. The PRV station is quite remote
from the Reservoir, so the Reservoir acts as the principal supply. Demands in this area
are predominantly residential. The distribution system is of 8-inch ductile iron and is
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adequate for peak hour demands; it also has the capacity to meet the appropriate fire flow
demands indicated in Table 4-1. The PRV station is on a bypass from the main, and a
mainline valve can be opened to allow the 430’ HGL water to serve the 459’ HGL
pressure zone in emergency situations.
456’ HGL (Bow Hill).
The 456’ HGL pressure zone at Bow Hill north of Burlington is served by the 1 million
gallon Bow Hill Reservoir. The 456’ HGL pressure zone serves the residential and
commercial areas near the Bow Hill Road Intersection of Interstate 5. The Bow Hill
Reservoir is filled from the 214’ HGL pressure zone by the Bow Hill Pump Station near
Old 99 North, controlled by the District’s SCADA system based on Reservoir level.
Demands on the pressure zone are predominantly commercial and public authority, but
include single family residential. The distribution system of the 456’ HGL pressure zone
is all of ductile iron, primarily 12-inch, and is adequate for both peak hour demands and
appropriate fire flows per Table 4-1.
459’ HGL (Transmission Line).
The 459’ HGL pressure zone is served by the Clearwells at the Judy Reservoir Water
Treatment Plant east of Clear Lake. The Clearwells are filled by the Water Treatment
Plant and have a normal operating range of about 5 feet. The entire Judy Reservoir water
system is supplied by this pressure zone, though storage reservoirs in lower pressure
zones serve most of the daily demands in their distribution systems. There are also some
direct services from the 459’ HGL pressure zone. If these direct services were mapped,
they would form a narrow band along the 459’ HGL transmission line, mostly at higher
elevations. The north leg of the 459’ HGL pressure zone follows the transmission line
north from the Clearwells, serving several homes off Morford Road, through an overhead
pipeline crossing of the Skagit River, to Sedro-Woolley. The transmission line tees at
Fruitdale Road, sending a 12-inch line north on Fruitdale Road and continuing the 24inch line through Sedro-Woolley to the PRV station at the intersection of 1st and Nelson
Streets. The transmission line drops from 459’ HGL to 214’ HGL at the newly installed
Rhodes Road PRV station, then continues on west along SR20 to Burlington, then south
along Burlington Boulevard to meet the south leg of the transmission line at the Skagit
River Bridge. However, a newly installed 18-inch ductile-iron transmission pipeline
following Cook Road carries the 459’ HGL pressure zone pressure to Cook Road where
it interties with 16-inch ductile-iron pipelines, and runs north and south along Old
Highway 99. Eventually a pipeline (likely to be installed on Josh Wilson Road) will
carry the 459’ HGL pressure zone service to Bay View Ridge.
The Fruitdale Road transmission line in Sedro-Woolley also acts as a distribution line for
elevations above 200’ AMSL. It serves Northern State Multi-Service Center through a
PRV station, continues north along Fruitdale Road, west along Kalloch Road to SR9
(where it serves the 430’ HGL pressure zone to the north), south on SR9 to Bassett Road
(serving domestic customers), and west on Bassett Road to the Dukes Hill Reservoir site,
(serving domestic customers near the reservoir site). Eventually this pressure zone will
expand north into the Hansen Creek and Thomas Creek basins.
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The south leg of the 459’ HGL transmission line runs southwest from Clearwells, serving
several customers along Old Day Creek Road and the Clear Lake Reservoir, continuing
southwest past Clear Lake (serving demands of the 356’ HGL and 365’ HGL pressure
zones at the PRV stations on Beaver Lake Road) to Mount Vernon. The 459’ HGL
transmission line serves demands in Mount Vernon to Draper Valley Farms, a large
commercial chicken processing facility that takes full 459’ HGL water through its own
PRV stations; to the 560’ HGL pressure zone via the Fir-Waugh Pump Station; to the
322’ HGL pressure zone through PRV stations at Waugh Road, LaVenture Road, 18th
Street and 9th Street; and to the 214’ HGL pressure zone through PRV stations at East
College Way, 18th Street, and 9th Street. The south leg of the transmission line drops
from 459’ HGL to 214’ HGL at the mainline PRV stations near 9th Street, where it
continues north along Riverside Drive to meet the north leg of the transmission line loop
at the Skagit River Bridge.
As indicated above, the Clearwells provide distribution storage for a small number of
domestic services in upper elevations of the Judy Reservoir system, plus one large
commercial customer in Mount Vernon; they also provide supplemental supply to
replenish storage in the 214’, 284’, 322’, 356’, 365’, 430’ and 560’ HGL pressure zones.
Under special circumstances, a PRV installed near the Fir/Waugh pump station may be
opened to feed water into the 459’ zone from the 560’ tank.
The transmission pipeline is predominantly unrestrained-joint concrete cylinder pipe; the
high pressure section between the 1st & Nelson PRV station and the overhead river
crossing in Sedro-Woolley is ductile iron and the river crossing itself is welded steel. A
seismic vulnerability assessment completed for the District noted that unrestrained-joint
concrete cylinder pipe in unconfined alluvial material was moderately vulnerable to
damage during a seismic event. When replacing such portions of transmission pipeline,
the District will use ductile iron or other seismically sound material. In other respects,
the transmission pipeline loop appears to be sound and serviceable, though there have
been some failures.
As noted in Section 5, growth projections and waning transmission line lifespans have an
effect on future serviceability of the transmission pipelines. Based on this, the District has
secured funding from the State for a section of replacement 459’ HGL transmission
pipeline between Judy Reservoir and Mount Vernon. Based on the District’s hydraulic
analysis, the new transmission line should be 36-inch in diameter and should follow the
existing transmission pipeline route. This replacement pipeline is currently in design.
463’ HGL (Skyridge).
The 463’ HGL pressure zone in south Mount Vernon is served by the 500,000 gallon
Little Mountain Reservoir. The 463’ HGL pressure zone serves a small residential area
accessed by Skyridge Drive. The Little Mountain Reservoir is filled from the 322’ HGL
pressure zone by the Skyridge Pump Station on Anderson Road. Water can also be
returned from the 463’ HGL pressure zone to the 322’ HGL pressure zone during peak
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demands through PRV stations on Anderson Road (at the pump station) and at Skyridge
Drive. The distribution system in the 463’ HGL pressure zone is predominantly ductile
iron and plastic, and has adequate capacity for peak hour demands as well as appropriate
fire flow demands per Table 4-1.
506’ HGL (Tinas Coma).
The 506’ HGL pressure zone on Burlington Hill in north Burlington is served by the
230,000 gallon Tinas Coma Reservoir. The 506’ HGL pressure zone serves a small
residential area on the Hill accessed from the north on Hillcrest Drive. The Tinas Coma
Reservoir is filled from the 214’ HGL pressure zone by the Tinas Coma Pump Station on
north Hillcrest Drive. With the completion of the Cook Road transmission pipeline, the
Tinas Coma pump station will be served by 290’ HGL which should reduce pumping
costs. The distribution system in the 506’ HGL pressure zone is predominantly ductile
iron, and has adequate capacity for peak hour demands as well as appropriate fire flow
demands per Table 4-1.
Recently, the fill portion of the road to the Tinas Coma development began sliding, and
the Districts supply pipeline had to be replaced. The District may adopt more stringent
standards on pipe restraint in areas of fill.
520’ HGL (Alger ).
The 520’ HGL pressure zone north of Burlington is currently served by a groundwater
well in Alger, but the long-term plan is to change the source to the Judy Reservoir water
system, supplied by the Bow Hill pump station. The 520’ HGL pressure zone currently
has about 130,000 gallons of storage in the Alger Reservoir. The Bow Hill pump station
also serves the 465’ HGL pressure zone, and is controlled by the District’ SCADA
system, responding to drawdown in the Bow Hill Reservoir. The pump station will also
respond to drawdown in the Alger Reservoir if the distribution pipeline along Old
Highway 99 Road North is completed. The distribution system in the Alger system is all
ductile iron, is sufficient to meet all peak hour demands, and has sufficient capacity for
fire suppression and fire truck refilling through its fire hydrants. The distribution is
further sized to support off-peak-hour supply to the Samish Water District in Whatcom
County; the Water District could take its entire maximum day demand from the 520’
HGL pressure zone in as little as 9 hours, without reducing the level of service during
that off-peak period. The 520’ HGL zone also includes a small pump station on
Appaloosa Road, serving the 15-20 homes in the Cantershire residential area.
560’ HGL (Mount Vernon).
The 560’ HGL pressure zone in southeast Mount Vernon is served by the 5 million gallon
Eaglemont Reservoir. The Eaglemont Reservoir is filled from the 459’ HGL
transmission line by the Fir-Waugh Pump Station. The Fir-Waugh Pump Station is
controlled by SCADA coordinated with Eaglemont tank level. The 560’ HGL pressure
zone can return water to the 322’ HGL pressure zone through the Pressure Sustaining
Valve Station at the intersection of Sioux and Shoshone in east Mount Vernon; this PSV
station is currently valved off. The 560’ HGL pressure zone can also feed into the 459’
HGL zone through a bypass PRV near the Fir-Waugh pump-station. The 560’ HGL
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pressure zone supplies water to the adjacent 645’ HGL pressure zone through a pump
station adjacent to the Eaglemont Reservoir. The distribution system in the 560’ HGL
pressure zone is predominantly ductile iron and plastic, with some AC and plastic in the
older lower areas by Digby Road and Division Street. The entire distribution system in
this pressure zone is adequate for peak hour demands, and the ductile iron and plastic
distribution piping is adequate for appropriate fire flows indicated in Table 4-1; the older
AC and plastic distribution lines in critical hydraulic legs are scheduled for replacement
(see Section 5, Improvement Program). An extension of Waugh Road across the
Eaglemont development down to Blackburn Road is being pursued by private developers:
this will also provide increased storage, flows and pressures to the east Blackburn Road
area and allow the retirement of two small booster/pressure tank systems, Cedar Hills and
East Blackburn, in conjunction with the planned expansion of the 420’ HGL pressure
zone (as stated above).
592’/858’ HGL (Cascade Ridge).
Cascade Ridge is a residential development on a significant hillside south of Mount
Vernon. The lowest portion of Cascade Ridge is served by the 322’ HGL, including a
pump station and a 75,000 gallon reservoir. A second pump station boosts water from the
322’ HGL zone up the hill to a 592’ HGL pressure zone and its 23,000 gallon reservoir.
A third pump station boosts water from the 592’ HGL reservoir up the hill to a 858’ HGL
pressure zone and its 33,000 gallon reservoir. The 858’ HGL serves a small 720’ HGL
pressure zone through a mainline PRV. The distribution system is all of ductile iron and
has sufficient capacity for both maximum day demands and fire suppression flows. The
pump systems are interconnected with their supported reservoirs by a telephone telemetry
system, responding based on reservoir drawdown. The Cascade Ridge pressure zone may
have the potential to support even higher pressure zones, should there be further
development up the hillside, or further south.
640 HGL (Panorama)
The Panorama system is an area northeast of the Judy WTP. This community is served
by the finished water pump station which also supplies the finish water for the Judy
WTP. An analysis of the existing pumps theoretical output indicates that there is
adequate supply and fireflow for the development. However, because of concerns over
storage a tank for the Panorama development is described in Section 5.
645’ HGL (Mount Vernon).
The 645’ HGL pressure zone in southeast Mount Vernon is to be served by the 1 million
gallon Eagles Nest Reservoir, adjacent to the Eaglemont Reservoir. The Eagles Nest
Reservoir is filled from the 560’ HGL pressure zone by the Eagles Nest Pump Station.
The Eagles Nest Reservoir is approximately 110’ tall and is on one of the highest points
in the pressure zone, making it able to provide a minimum of 40 psi to any point in the
pressure zone. There are currently no domestic demands in this pressure zone as this area
of Eaglemont has not yet developed. The only demands on the 645’ HGL pressure zone
at this time are irrigation demands of the golf course at the Eaglemont development,
protected from the potable water system by a cross-connection control assembly. An
irrigation meter fills an adjacent irrigation pond, which is then pumped to meet actual
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irrigation demands. The District’s water contract with the Eaglemont development
allows it to withdraw irrigation water only during the 10 off-peak hours of each day, so as
not to overburden the District’s distribution or supply system.
The demands of the zone will be primarily residential and irrigation. The Reservoir will
draw down during the day and will refill at night. The Pump Station will refill the
Reservoir once drawn down to a specified level and will have telemetry alarms for the
pump system and for both Eagles Nest and Eaglemont Reservoirs; a PRV station in the
Pump Station will supply water from the 645’ HGL pressure zone to the 560’ HGL
pressure zone should the Eaglemont Reservoir be out of service for any reason. The
distribution system in the 645’ HGL pressure zone is all to be of ductile iron and will be
adequate to serve both peak hour demands and meet the appropriate fire flow
requirements indicated in Table 4-1.
684’ HGL (Lake Sixteen).
The 684’ HGL pressure zone east of Conway is served by the 60,000 gallon Lake Sixteen
Reservoir. The 684’ HGL pressure zone serves the residential areas to the south of Lake
Sixteen; the areas to the north of the Lake can also be served up to elevation 584’ AMSL.
The Lake Sixteen Reservoir is filled from the 413’ HGL pressure zone by the Lake
Sixteen Pump Station near SR534, controlled by the Reservoir pressure transducer.
Demands on the pressure zone are predominantly single family residential. The
distribution system of the 684’ HGL pressure zone is all of ductile iron, primarily 8-inch,
and is adequate for both peak hour demands and appropriate fire flows per Table 4-1.
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Storage
The District’s goal is to have at least 2 days of Average Daily demands in standby storage
for each service connection. For new systems which do not have an established pattern
of use, this amounts to 800 gallons per service connection. Table 4-7 indicates the Judy
Reservoir system has 24 water storage reservoirs with a total nominal capacity of
30,380,000 gallons in service in the Judy Reservoir system. Of this, 3,773,000 gallons is
operational storage, 24,247,265 gallons is standby/fire storage, and 1,170,000 gallons is
additional fire storage. This storage is divided as summarized in Table 4-9 below.
Table 4.9 - JUDY SUB-AREA RESERVOIR STORAGE
Service Sub-Area
Bay View
Big Lake
Burlington *
Clear Lake
Conway
Mount Vernon
Sedro-Woolley *
Water Treatment Plant
*=
Standby
Storage
(gal)
#
Gal per
Services
svc
3,009,000
1050
2,866
617,000
643
960
3,415,500
2,955
1,156
1,109,000
360
3,081
147,000
475
309
8,865,000
9,283
955
2,185,500
3,620
604
4,899,265 All areas N/A
24,247,265 18,386
1,319
Dukes Hill reservoir allocated half to Burlington and half to
Sedro-Woolley via a transmission line
The majority of the District’s domestic and commercial demands in the Judy Reservoir
system are east of Interstate 5, supported by all but two of the system’s storage reservoirs.
The majority of the District’s customers to the west (principally the Bay View area) are
supported by the two remaining distribution storage reservoirs, backed up by interties
with the City of Anacortes. As can be seen in Table 4-6 above, the District generally
meets its overall goal of 800 gallons of standby storage per service (see Minimum Design
Standards in Appendix D – Water Code). The Sedro-Woolley area is also supported by
unallocated standby storage of the Water Treatment Plant, bolstering the unit SedroWoolley standby storage available. Improvements are proposed for the Conway SubArea in Section 5, Improvement Program.
With the exception of the WTP Clearwells, all storage reservoirs in the District’s service
areas, including Fidalgo Island and satellite systems, act as distribution storage, serving
demands during the day and refilling at night. The reservoirs are drawn down by
customer demands; once reservoirs have drawn down to a preset point, the reduced static
pressure triggers the controls of the SCADA, PRV or pump station(s) supplying that
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pressure zone to replenish the storage. The reservoirs equalize the inflow to service areas
over time and have the effect of increasing pipeline capacity without the need to replace
piping.
Fire Flow
The District provides water service to fire sprinkler systems in commercial structures, as
well as to the many fire hydrants connected to its water mains, throughout its service
areas. The District works regularly with the County and City Fire Marshals as well as the
City Fire Departments and rural Fire Districts to ensure adequate flow and pressure are
available at these services and hydrants to support the required fire flow demands (see
Table 4-1). The District also worked with the City of Mount Vernon in 1991 on their
Fire Department Master Plan and provides hydraulics classroom training to Fire
Department personnel on request. Fire flow is one of the principal criteria the District
uses to evaluate the adequacy of existing water mains in urban areas. The District
evaluates fire flow availability by either flow testing existing hydrants or through
hydraulic analysis using its computer model, or a combination of both. Developers may
be required to replace existing water main(s) if the main(s) will not provide the flow
required by the Fire Marshal at the District’s design criteria. See Appendix I – Water
Code.
At the writing of this Plan, the majority of fire hydrants are owned by the respective City
or Fire District within the City or Fire District’s boundaries. Cooperative agreements
were executed with several Fire Districts whereby the District accepted ownership and
shares specific maintenance responsibilities for all fire hydrants in specific Fire District
service areas with the respective Fire District.
4.4.3 Fidalgo Island Water System
Source
The District’s system on Fidalgo Island was originally served by two wells southeast of
March Point. The quality of the raw water diminished over years of use and the wells
were both taken out of service around 1980, replaced by interties with the City of
Anacortes. Water for the District’s Fidalgo Island system is currently purchased from the
City under the terms of the same water contract as the interties for the Judy Reservoir
system. The District has sold the Fidalgo Island well site properties, however, an
evaluation of groundwater resources on the island is planned.
Treatment
The water received through City of Anacortes interties is treated at the City’s
conventional WTP, located adjacent to the Skagit River on Riverbend Road in Mount
Vernon. The City’s finished water exceeds all current requirements of the SDWA.
Transmission/Distribution
Potable water is served to Fidalgo Island by the City of Anacortes’ 24-inch and 36-inch
high pressure transmission lines (approximately 150 psi at their WTP), which have the
capacity to serve all the current and projected water needs of the City’s customers,
including the District’s Fidalgo Island system. The District purchases the City’s high
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pressure water at three interties serving the District’s Fidalgo Island system (see Figure
4.7). These interties are at Stevenson Road (2 interties), Sharpe’s Corner, (where SR20
heads south to Whidbey Island). Each intertie feeds into the distribution system, which
extends throughout residential areas along the west shoreline of Skagit Bay.
The Fidalgo Island distribution system was designed and installed to serve the domestic
demands of a sparse suburban and rural population. Fire flow was not originally a
consideration. Some of the water mains still date back to the late 1950s and early 1960s
when the system was first established. Many of the smaller lines are 2-inch to 4-inch
steel, AC and plastic. Larger, more sturdy mains are replacing these older lines as
development requires their replacement and as the District’s capital improvement budget
will allow. The distribution system is generally considered acceptable for the domestic
and fire demands of the water system. The District’s hydraulic model of the distribution
system produces information within the parameters listed below:
Pressure
Meets
Lowest Highest PHD?
HGL
178
200
270
318
430
50
35
30
70
30
80
80
110
130
120
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Meets
Fire flow? Comments
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Small lines exceed max velocity during fire Q.
Pressure Zones
Individual pressure zones for the Fidalgo Island System are indicated on Figure 4.7. The
District and City of Anacortes have agreed generally that the District will provide service
on the east side of SR 20, and Anacortes will provide service on the west side of SR 20.
178’ HGL (Similk).
The 178’ HGL pressure zone south of Marches Point is served by the 100,000 gallon
Similk Reservoir. The Reservoir is filled from a PRV station at the north Stevenson
Road intertie, served from the City of Anacortes distribution system; the 178’ HGL
pressure zone is backed up by a PRV station from the District’s 270’ HGL pressure zone
to the east. The Reservoir is hydraulically remote from the two PRV stations, so the
Reservoir is the dominant supply to the demands on its pressure zone. The Reservoir
draws down during the day due to demands from the pressure zone and refills at night
when those demands relax. The distribution system is predominantly 6-inch AC mains
with 1, 2 and 3-inch plastic lateral lines, and is considered adequate for peak hour
demands and rural fire flows per Table 4-1. The 178’ HGL pressure zone can be
supplemented by the adjacent 430’ HGL pressure zone through the PRV station on
Satterlee Road. The seismic vulnerability assessment recently completed by the
District’s consultant indicates that the unanchored wood stave Similk Reservoir would
likely lose its functionality in a seismic event; the consultant recommended replacing the
Reservoir. The Reservoir has been augmented by a new 100,000 gallon reservoir in the
adjacent 270’ HGL pressure zone, so that the Similk Reservoir could be removed from
service at any time without severely jeopardizing the quality of service to the 178’ HGL
pressure zone customers.
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200’ HGL (Dewey Beach south).
The 200’ HGL pressure zone at the south end of Fidalgo Island is served by the two
Bridgeway Reservoirs, totaling 70,000 gallons. The Reservoirs are filled from the
adjacent 318’ HGL pressure zone through a PRV station on Washington Street. The
PRV provides a regulated inflow to the Reservoirs. Outflow from the Reservoirs is based
on demands of the pressure zone, which is primarily single-family residential. The
Reservoirs draw down during the day as demands from the pressure zone exceed inflow
from the intertie and refill at night when those demands relax and inflow exceeds
demands. The distribution system is predominantly 8-inch ductile iron and 4, 6, and 8inch plastic and AC mains with 1, 2 and 3-inch lateral lines, and is considered adequate
for peak hour demands and rural fire flows per Table 4-1. The 200’ HGL pressure zone
was served by an intertie to the Anacortes transmission pipeline on SR 20. However,
Anacortes requested that the District contribute 51-percent of the cost of relocating the
transmission pipeline, so the District abandoned the intertie as it was not cost-effective to
its customers.
The Dewey Crest Lane area is surrounded by the 200’ HGL zone, and is served by a
booster pump to increase pressures. Improvements described in Section 5 will bring
higher pressure water to this area from the 318 zone.
A large section of ground in the Salmon Beach area, next to Gibralter Road in the eastern
portion of the 200’ HGL pressure zone, slid about 1 foot in November of 1990, damaging
District water lines that crossed the slide boundaries. The District replaced a large
portion of the existing 200’ HGL distribution system and a small portion of the adjacent
318’ HGL distribution system, routing the new lines around the slide area wherever
possible. Only 3 waterlines now cross the known fault lines, a 6-inch ductile iron main
and two 2-inch plastic service lines; each of those lines is fitted with a control valve that
will automatically close when it detects high flows, such as might occur if the lines are
sheared or separated during a future landslide. The 6-inch line serves a fire hydrant, and
the local Fire District has been instructed on how to override the high-flow shut-off valve
if the hydrant is required to provide fire flows.
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4-82
270’ HGL (Thompson Road).
The 270’ HGL pressure zone on the eastern edge of Fidalgo Island was developed as a
follow-up of the District’s 1994 Water System Plan by constructing the 100,000 gallon
Summit Park Reservoir. The pressure zone is served by an intertie with the City of
Anacortes distribution system on Stevenson Road. The intertie provides regulated inflow
to the pressure zone through a PRV station. The Reservoir provides primary supply to
domestic demands, drawing down during demands and refilling then the pilot on the PRV
responds. The demands on the pressure zone are primarily single-family residential. The
distribution system is predominantly 8-inch ductile iron, supplemented by 4, 6 and 8-inch
AC and plastic mains, and is considered adequate for peak hour demands and rural fire
flows per Table 4-1. The 270’ HGL pressure zone can supplement the adjacent 178’
HGL pressure zone through a PRV station on Slice Street. The wood stave Similk
Reservoir was identified as a vulnerable structure during a seismic vulnerability
assessment and may be replaced – potentially by locating a second reservoir at the
Summit Park Reservoir site. The reservoir site was planned with room and connection
points for a second 100,000 gallon reservoir.
318’ HGL (Dewey Beach north).
The 318’ HGL pressure zone on the southeast edge of Fidalgo Island is served by two
PRV stations from the 430’ HGL pressure zone: one at Hoxie Lane and Carolina, and
another along Gibralter Road. The PRV stations provide regulated inflows to the
pressure zone. The demands on the pressure zone are primarily single-family residential
with some commercial demands. The distribution system is predominantly 4, 6, and 8inch plastic, AC and ductile iron mains with 1, 2 and 3-inch lateral lines, and is
considered adequate for peak hour demands and rural fire flows per Table 4-1. The 318’
HGL pressure zone also supplements the 200’ HGL pressure zone through an adjacent
PRV station on Washington Street. One of the high flow automatic shutoff valves near
the Gibralter Road slide area, identified in the 200’ HGL pressure zone description
above, is on a 2-inch plastic service line at the southeast corner of the 318’ HGL pressure
zone. The shutoff valve is intended to control water loss due to a failure of the service
line in any future landslide at the known fault line.
430’ HGL (Gibralter Road).
The 430’ HGL pressure zone on the south center portion of Fidalgo Island was built
through a major construction effort in 1998 and 1999, jointly funded by the District and
the Anacortes School District. The 1.2 million dollar project included the new 550,000
gallon Fidalgo Heights Reservoir, the Gibralter Road pump station (served by an intertie
with the City of Anacortes transmission line at Sharpe’s Corner – originally from Fern
Hill Cemetary), over 8,000 feet of 8- and 12-inch ductile iron waterline, and two major
PRV stations. The Sharpe’s Corner intertie provides a source for the new Gibralter Road
pump station, which fills the Fidalgo Heights Reservoir based on time of day and
drawdown. The 430’ HGL pressure zone used to be the northern end of the 318’ HGL
pressure zone, which experienced low pressures during peak demands at its upper
elevations. The distribution pressures have now significantly improved, and the service
area has increased to allow service to significant areas higher in the foothills of Fidalgo
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Island. The demands on the pressure zone are primarily single-family residential with
public demands near the Fidalgo Elementary School. The distribution system is now
predominantly 8 and 12-inch ductile iron mains, augmented by 4, 6, and 8-inch plastic
and AC mains and 1, 2 and 3-inch lateral lines, and is considered adequate for peak hour
demands and rural fire flows per Table 4-1. The 430’ HGL pressure zone also serves the
adjacent 318’ HGL pressure zone through PRV stations on Hoxie Lane and Gibralter
Road, and the 178’ HGL pressure zone through a PRV station on Satterlee Road. The
Fidalgo School Tank, a wood stave tank on a timber tower, was identified as a vulnerable
structure during a seismic vulnerability assessment, and was removed after the new
Fidalgo Heights Reservoir was placed in service. The transition of the northern 318’
HGL pressure zone to 430’ HGL, and the associated construction and demolition
operations, was a follow-up on recommendations of the 1994 Water System Plan.
Proposed Improvements
The existing pressure zones of the Fidalgo Island system (see Figure 4.7) are adequate for
the majority of the existing service distribution. However, future revisions may take
advantage of the terrain by revising pressure zones to expand the hydraulic potential of
the water system. As proposed, the 178’ HGL pressure zone to the east will be revised to
270’ HGL, removing the wood stave Similk Reservoir from service and using the
100,000 gallon Summit Park Reservoir on Thompson Road. The 270’ HGL pressure
zone will use existing distribution infrastructure to provide service from sea level up to
elevation 170’ AMSL within the District’s designated service area. A second 100,000
gallon reservoir may be added at the Summit Park reservoir site on Thompson Road after
the Similk Reservoir is removed, depending on growth of the 270’ HGL service area and
the need for added standby storage.
Storage
The District currently has four reservoirs serving its Fidalgo Island system with 800,000
gallons total nominal capacity. Of this, 138,000 gallons is operational storage and
670,000 gallons is combined standby and fire storage. See Table 4-7. The standby
storage currently provides approximately 1,000 gallons per service, greater than the
District’s goal of 800 gallons per residential. Storage for the Fidalgo Island System is
also available from the 3 million gallon Whistle Lake Reservoir in Anacortes, connected
directly to the transmission line serving the four District Fidalgo Island System interties.
Fire Flow
There are fire hydrants connected to the District’s distribution system on Fidalgo Island.
The area is not currently within any city’s UGA and is therefore considered rural, so the
County Fire Marshal does not generally require the fire flows to be more than 500 gpm.
Even with small water mains in many areas, the Fidalgo Island system generally has
adequate capacity to meet these requirements. As in the Judy Reservoir system, any
developer requiring flows in excess of those available must replace existing water mains
per District standards.
4-84
4.4.4 Alger Water System
Source
The Alger Water System was developed by the Alger Power and Water Company, a
private corporation that provided utility service to the community of Alger in the
northwest corner of Skagit County. The system was constructed in the 1960s and
consisted of a flowing artesian groundwater well and a distribution system. Over time, it
appears that additional demands on the aquifer may have reduced the pressure available
directly from the artesian well and booster pumps were added. A submersible pump was
finally installed prior to the District’s involvement with the system. Water rights are
addressed in Section 3 of this Plan.
At the community’s request, the District formed two concurrent and adjacent Local
Utility Districts (LUDs) to fund a new distribution system, construct a water storage
reservoir, replace the groundwater well pump and install metered water services.
The groundwater source may eventually be placed in a standby mode if water supply is
extended to Alger from the Judy Reservoir system.
Treatment
Test results of groundwater indicated manganese above the MCL. The LUDs funded a
water filtration system to remove the manganese to below the MCL and offer
chlorination of the finished water. The finished water meets all requirements of the
SDWA.
Transmission/Distribution
The old system of 1 to 2-inch PVC and 4-inch steel water mains was replaced with 4, 6,
8, 12 and 16-inch ductile iron water mains. The mains were sized to provide domestic
and fire demands within the service area as well as support possible flows to meet
demands to the north around Lake Samish. The new mains are quite adequate and no
improvements are anticipated for many years. The District’s hydraulic model of the
distribution system produces information within the parameters listed below:
Meets
Pressure
Lowest Highest PHD?
HGL
520
30
120 Y
600
30
90 Y
Meets
Fire flow? Comments
Served by Alger tank
Y
Served by Appaloosa pump station
N/A
The Alger system serves a hilly area at the northwest corner of its service area. The water
to this area is lifted by the Appaloossa pump station to about 15-20 customers. There is
no fire flow required downstream of the pump station due to the low density of the
development; the system pressures range between 40 and 90 psi during peak demand
periods. Even with the pump station off during a power outage, water services are
expected to have in excess of 20 psi.
4-85
Storage
The District constructed a storage reservoir with a total capacity of 132,000 gallons
adequate for the design capacity of the water system. About 111,000 gallons of the
reservoir is standby storage, providing over 800 gallons storage per service and at least
40 psi to the highest customer (below the Appaloossa pump station).
Fire Flow
Fire hydrants were installed with the new water mains. Fire flow capacity exceeds the
requirements for the existing residential and commercial development in this rural area.
4.4.5 Cedargrove Water System
Source
The Cedargrove water system was the District’s LUD #10. The existing water system
was owned by the homeowner’s association of the development, located next to the
Skagit River southeast of Concrete. The existing water system was failing: the
infrastructure was undersized, the well was contaminated with iron bacteria and storage
was inadequate. Through the LUD process in 1991, the District drilled a new well,
installed a new pump and new water mains, and constructed a storage reservoir. The
existing system was abandoned. The District financed the LUD with assistance from a
DOH Referendum 38 grant. Water rights are addressed in Section 3 of this Plan.
Treatment
Test results of groundwater indicated manganese at nuisance levels. The District funded
a water filtration system to remove the manganese and offer chlorination of the finished
water. The finished water meets all requirements of the SDWA. An assessment of the
vulnerability of the groundwater to contamination has been addressed by the District in
its Cedargrove on the Skagit Water System Ground Water Contamination Susceptibility
Assessment of July 1994, under separate cover.
Transmission/Distribution
The water mains are of ductile iron and are of sufficient size to supply the design
domestic and fire demands of the development. The District’s hydraulic model of the
distribution system produces information within the parameters listed below:
Pressure
Meets
HGL
Lowest Highest PHD?
379
30
75 Y
Meets
Fire flow? Comments
Y
Storage
The District constructed a new storage reservoir with a total capacity of 270,000 gallons.
The majority of the reservoir (234,000 gallons) is standby storage and will provide 30 psi
to the highest service in the water system. The standby storage of the reservoir is
adequate for the design capacity of the water system.
Fire Flow
4-86
Fire hydrants were installed with the new water mains. Fire flow capacity exceeds the
requirements for the residential development.
4.4.6 Marblemount Water System
Source
The Marblemount water system was constructed via a Local Utility District (LUD #28) in
2006, installing a new well, tank, and distribution system. The system is the most
easterly service area for the District, located on the north side of the Skagit river at the
confluence of the Skagit and Cascade Rivers. The system was requested in response to
several small public water systems which were ‘red-tagged’ by the Health Department.
The source for the Marblemount system is a well northwest of the town. The District has
water rights for the system which require a portion of water to be spilled to the Skagit
River when the Skagit River is below minimum instream flows.
Treatment
The well produces quality water which does not require treatment. Currently the source
is not chlorinated, however, the system would be chlorinated if needed.
Transmission/Distribution
The water mains are mostly 8-inch C-900 PVC pipelines; although a portion of 8-inch
ductile iron pipeline is installed in steep topography areas near the tank, and some areas
adjacent to service stations. The water mains are of sufficient size to supply the design
domestic and fire demands of the development. The District’s hydraulic model of the
distribution system produces information within the parameters listed below:
Pressure
Meets
HGL
Lowest Highest PHD?
528
65
89 Y
Meets
Fire flow? Comments
Y
Storage
The District constructed a new storage tank with a total capacity of 64,000 gallons. The
majority of the reservoir (48,000 gallons) is standby storage and will provide over 40 psi
to the highest service in the water system. The standby storage of the reservoir is
adequate for the design capacity of the water system.
Fire Flow
Fire hydrants were installed with the new water mains. Fire flow capacity meets the
requirements for the community.
4.4.7 Mountain View Water System
Source
The Mountain View Water System was designed to serve a maximum of 16 lots just east
of Mount Vernon’s city limits (see Figure 2.2). The system was installed by the
developer without formal approval of DOH. The developer agreed to sign over the
4-87
ownership of the entire system to the District, plus pay the equivalent value of a portion
of the improvements required to bring the system to District standards for the urban area.
The system is currently a single Group B water system served by one well. The water
rights are adequate for the long term planned growth of the system as designed. The
water right permit for the well has been assigned by the developer to the District . The
well screen is approximately 375 feet below grade, and there appear to be at least 4
distinct clay lenses separating the aquifer from the surface; the District considers the
groundwater source secure from local source contamination. A wellhead protection plan
has not been developed because one is not required for a Group B water system and the
District plans on connecting the system to the Judy Reservoir System in the near future.
Water rights are addressed in Section 3 of this Plan.
Treatment
The groundwater is treated by a dual tank ion-exchange system to remove naturallyoccurring manganese, sized to serve the full 16-lot development. The finished water
meets all requirements of the SDWA.
Transmission/Distribution
The existing system includes dual 3-inch PVC water mains, one down each side of the
road the length of the development, adequate for domestic service. Two pressure
reducing valves are installed in each of the two mains at specified elevations to maintain
maximum 80 psi and minimum 40 psi pressures as the mains run down the hill from the
well house. The District’s hydraulic model of the distribution system produces
information within the parameters listed below:
HGL
Upper
Middle
Lower
Pressure
Lowest Highest
30
60
30
80
30
80
Meets
PHD?
Y
Y
Y
Meets
Fire flow? Comments
NA
NA
NA
The District ultimately plans to replace the 3-inch mains and mainline PRVs with a single
8-inch ductile iron main and individual service PRVs as required.
Storage
The system serves fourteen customers at the writing of this Plan and the well pump has
sufficient capacity to meet their peak hour demands; the system therefore requires no
standby storage. Depending on the rate of growth of the system, the District may review
its options to maintain the reliability of service to the Mountain View customers. Options
include construction of a storage reservoir, installation of an emergency power system, or
connection of the System to the adjacent 645’ HGL pressure zone in the Eaglemont
development, a part of the Judy Reservoir System, which currently has excess standby
storage.
4-88
Fire Flow
The small water mains and lack of standby/fire storage preclude the installation of fire
hydrants at this time. Hydrants may be installed when the water mains are upgraded and
storage is available.
4.4.8 Potlatch Water System
Source
The Potlatch Water System was designed to serve approximately 36 lots of the Potlatch
Beach Division 1 development on the northwest shore of Guemes island (see Figure 2.2).
The system was approved as a Type 1 (Group A) water system and constructed in the
1980s. The sources of water for the original system were two groundwater wells. The
wells appear to have been over-pumped and drew saltwater into the freshwater aquifer.
The community approached the District to provide a better source of water in 1998.
Working with several consultants, the District developed and constructed a reverse
osmosis (RO) water treatment facility on the south end of the development. The RO
system and SCADA controls were funded by a Local Utility District (LUD #23). The
RO system uses saltwater from an infiltration gallery below the marine waterline as its
source. A submersible pump lifts the saltwater to the RO facility, which is located well
above the marine high water line. One groundwater well is used only for groundwater
monitoring (or emergency supply) at this time, giving time for the saltwater intrusion to
subside and freshwater aquifer to recover; the other well was relinquished to the owner of
the property on which the well is located. Water rights are addressed in Section 3 of this
Plan.
Treatment
The RO system replaced the groundwater wells and produces exceptional water quality.
The finished water meets all requirements of the SDWA. The RO system has the
capacity to serve well in excess of the 36 lots of the development, and has the capability
to accept additional modules for even greater treatment capacity.
Transmission/Distribution
Water is pumped from a clearwell in the RO facility to a 30,000 gallon water storage
reservoir, which serves the systems current 29 services through an existing distribution
system of 4-inch and 2-inch PVC water mains. Water services at higher elevations have
their pressure boosted by a small pump station downstream of the reservoir. Demands on
this system are low, annually averaging only 58 gallons per service per day, due in part to
the high water rates charged (averaging $62 per month) to cover the high cost of
operating the RO system. The distribution system is adequate for the minimal domestic
demands of the system and no improvements are anticipated. The District’s hydraulic
model of the distribution system produces information within the parameters listed
below:
4-89
HGL
Tank
Pump
Pressure
Lowest Highest
30
60
40
60
Meets
PHD?
Y
Y
Meets
Fire flow? Comments
NA
NA
Storage
The 30,000 cylindrical concrete storage tank is in adequate condition. The minimal
demands on the system make the equalization storage the limiting factor to its water
service capacity, which is limited to 63 services, well in excess of the current service
count of 29.
Fire Flow
A 1-port fire standpipe is connected to the distribution system to support refilling fire
trucks in the area from the storage tank. No new hydrants may be installed until the
water mains are upgraded to at least 6-inch from the tank to the hydrant, which is not
proposed in the near term.
4.4.9 Rockport Water System
Source
The Rockport water system was the District’s LUD #11 (see Figure 2.2). The town of
Rockport was served by several water systems from various local streams. The systems
were contaminated with parasites, were poorly constructed and had no storage. The
District made an agreement with the State Department of Parks and Recreation to accept
ownership of the Rockport State Park well and to serve both the State Park and the Town
of Rockport. Through the LUD process in 1990, the District installed new water mains in
the town connected to a new storage reservoir and the State Park well. The District
obtained a loan from FmHA with grant assistance from FmHA, DCD and DOH. The
high level of grants reduced individual LUD assessments from over $10,000 each to
about $800 each. Water rights are addressed in Section 3 of this Plan.
Treatment
Test results of groundwater indicated manganese at nuisance levels. The District funded
a water filtration system to remove the manganese and offer chlorination of the finished
water. The finished water meets all requirements of the SDWA. An assessment of the
vulnerability of the groundwater to contamination has been addressed by the District in
its Rockport Water System Ground Water Contamination Susceptibility Assessment of
July 1994, under separate cover.
Transmission/Distribution
The new water mains are of PVC and are gridded throughout the town of Rockport. PVC
pipe was a requirement of the federal agency funding the project, though it is not the
District’s standard. The highest service elevation in the town of Rockport is 345’ AMSL.
The water mains are of sufficient size to supply the design domestic and fire demands of
the town. The District’s hydraulic model of the distribution system produces information
within the parameters listed below:
4-90
HGL
468’
Meets
Pressure
Lowest Highest PHD?
45
90 Y
Meets
Fire flow? Comments
Y
Storage
The District constructed a new storage reservoir with a total capacity of 60,000 gallons,
adequate for the design capacity of the water system. About 48,000 gallons of the
reservoir is standby storage, providing over 1,000 gallons storage per connected service
area and at least 45 psi to the highest customer.
Fire Flow
Fire hydrants were installed with the new water mains. Fire flow capacity exceeds the
requirements for the residential areas.
4.4.10
Skagit View Village Water System
Source
The District assumed ownership and improved the Skagit View Village water system
through LUD #27. The pre-existing system had been run by a homeowners group, and
was named Wilderness Village. The Wilderness Village system had small plastic and
galvanized lines incapable of delivering fireflow, and a 1000-gallon pressure tank
provided insufficient standby storage. Also, naturally occurring carbonic acid in the
Wilderness Village groundwater was leading to copper levels in excess of the MCL. The
Wilderness Village system had acquired state loan money for system improvements – the
District became involved while the improvements were under-design. With the District’s
involvement, an adjacent development was added to the scope of the LUD project,
reducing the assessments to all stakeholders.
Treatment
The water source is treated to reduce the amount of carbonic acid in the system. Well
water is pumped through a venturi which siphons air into the water, allowing the oversaturated carbon-dioxide to come out of solution. The water then passes through a degassing tower which significantly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide, and increases
the pH. Thus far this treatment has not produced the desired results in that some samples
continue to exceed the action level for copper. The District is working on a solution
which may include adding a base to adjust pH, or increasing aeration to remove
additional carbonic acid.
Transmission/Distribution
The pipelines installed during the LUD are 6-inch, 8-inch, and 12-inch ductile iron and
are gridded throughout the community. The water mains are of sufficient size to supply
the design domestic and fire demands of the community. The District’s hydraulic model
of the distribution system produces information within the parameters listed below:
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Meets
Pressure
HGL
Lowest Highest PHD?
316
45
60 Y
Meets
Fire flow? Comments
Y
Storage
The District constructed a new storage reservoir with a total capacity of 157,000 gallons.
The majority of the reservoir is standby storage and will provide over 40 psi to the
highest service in the water system. The standby storage of the reservoir is adequate for
the design capacity of the water system.
Fire Flow
Fire hydrants were installed with the new water mains. Fire flow capacity exceeds the
requirements for the residential areas.
4.5 Water Quality Analysis System and Area
4.5.1 Judy Reservoir Water System
The District administers a rigorous water quality monitoring program that includes both
compliance and voluntary monitoring.
Bacteriological monitoring is required under the Total Coliform Rule. The minimum
monthly routine coliform sampling requirement is described in WAC 246-290-300 and is
based upon population size. The number of routine monitoring sites required according to
the Coliform Monitoring Plan for the Judy Reservoir system recently increased from 50
sites to 70 sites in 2006 as the system population grew to 65,000 (WAC 246-290-300,
Table 2). Bacteriological test results have been satisfactory for at least the last fifteen
years.
Disinfection byproduct (DBP) monitoring has been conducted for many years in the Judy
Reservoir system. The District met the 2002 deadline for monitoring under the Stage 1
Disinfection and Disinfection Byproducts Rule. Under Stage 1, there are 4 sites in the
Judy System which are sampled quarterly for disinfection byproducts. The District is in
compliance with the Stage 1 Rule, based upon the Running Annual Average across all
monitoring sites.
The District has adopted the Stage 2 Disinfection and Disinfection Byproducts Rule,
which was promulgated by the EPA in early 2006. Under Stage 2, the District submitted
a Standard Monitoring Plan (SMP) to the EPA in April 2007, which was accepted. The
District hired HDR, Inc. to assist with the development of the SMP. The SMP describes
one year of increased bi-monthly monitoring at sixteen sites across the Judy Reservoir
system. These locations of the monitoring sites have been mapped using GIS software.
The dates and locations of Standard Monitoring are described in the plan, and will begin
April 2008. At each site, a dual sample for TTHM and HAA5 will be collected. After the
Standard Monitoring is completed, the District will review sampling results, which are
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calculated as Location Running Annual Average at each Standard Monitoring Site. The
District will submit an Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE) to EPA, describing
eight Compliance Monitoring sites that will be permanently monitored quarterly for
DBPs.
Results of inorganic chemical (IOC) analyses have been below the maximum
contaminant levels (MCLs) on all primary and secondary regulated compounds. The
District is in compliance for regulated volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). A sample
collected in late 2005 indicated presence of VOCs. However, this presence was attributed
to the recent painting of the new clearwell and a repeat sample in early 2006 indicated no
presence of VOCs. All other VOC sampling has been satisfactory. Radionuclide test
results have been satisfactory. Synthetic organic compounds (SOCs) are required to be
sampled two times every third year. Results of 2006 sampling indicated no presence of
herbicides, pesticides, or insecticides. Asbestos sampling has been satisfactory. Water
quality test results can be found in the Consumer Confidence Report in Appendix E.
The current requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act will continue to influence water
treatment activities for the next five years.
The Lead and Copper Rule dictates that in the Judy Reservoir system lead and copper
sampling be conducted at 30 homes once every three years. Results from 2006 sampling
were satisfactory and are described in the 2006 Consumer Confidence Report.
The District continues to monitor for Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Mandatory raw water
collection has been completed, and EPA/WaDOH has accepted the 24-month Long Term
2 Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2SWTR) data, establishing that the District will be
positioned in Bin Category 1, meaning that no additional disinfection treatment is
required. The District continues to monitor for Cryptosporidium and Giardia on a
voluntary quarterly basis.
The 2006 Consumer Confidence Report for the Judy Reservoir water system is included
in Appendix K. A summary of the District’s 2007 water quality monitoring requirements
has been included in Appendix M.
4.5.2 Fidalgo Island Water System
The source water quality for the Fidalgo island water system is controlled by the City of
Anacortes, from whom the water is purchased. Water quality information for the Fidalgo
Island system is addressed in its 2006 Consumer Confidence Report, included in
Appendix E of this Plan.
The Fidalgo Island water system is required quarterly DBP monitoring at one site under
the Stage 1 Disinfection and Disinfectants Byproducts Rule. The Fidalgo System is in
compliance with the Stage 1 DBP Rule, based upon the Running Annual Average.
The Fidalgo System is also required to comply with the Stage 2 Disinfection and
Disinfection Byproducts Rule, which was accepted by the EPA in early 2006. Under
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Stage 2, Schedule 2, the District submitted a Standard Monitoring Plan (SMP) to the
EPA, which was accepted. The SMP describes one year of increased quarterly monitoring
at two sites across the Fidalgo system. The dates and locations of Standard Monitoring
are described in the plan, and will begin November 2007. Since Fidalgo Island is
considered a Subpart H system with a population of 500-3300, the District will be
required to take individual quarterly TTHM and HAA5 samples (instead of a dual sample
set) at the locations with the highest TTHM and HAA5 LRAA concentrations,
respectively. After the Standard Monitoring is completed, the District will review
sampling results, which are calculated as Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA) at
each Standard Monitoring Site. The District will submit an Initial Distribution System
Evaluation (IDSE) to EPA, describing Compliance Monitoring that will be required for
DBPs.
4.5.3 Remote Water Systems
Water quality information for the Alger, Cedargrove, Potlatch, Rockport, and Skagit
View Village Water Systems are addressed in their respective Consumer Confidence
Reports, included in Appendix E of this Plan.
Results of the District’s lead and copper monitoring program indicate that corrosion
control efforts in the Skagit View Village system must be improved. When the District
took control of the Skagit View Village system in 2005, there was an existing corrosion
problem that resulted in customers’ exposure to elevated levels of copper. In the spring of
2005, the District installed a non-chemical Venturi-aeration process in the pump house to
help remove carbon dioxide from the pumped water, thus increasing pH and reducing
corrosivity. This improvement is described in the 2006 Consumer Confidence Report.
While the process has reduced corrosivity of the water, as of June 2007 a few homes in
the testing program continue to exceed the action level for copper. The District has
determined that it should use a calcite contactor for pH control. This project is planned
for 2008.
Mountain View is the sole Group B water system that is operated by the District.
Requirements of Group B systems are described in WAC 246-291. According to WAC
246-291-320, the District is required to conduct annual Bacteriological monitoring. The
District elects to monitor quarterly, however. In June 2000, a routine Bacteriological
sample indicated presence of total coliform. Three repeat samples were collected in July
2000; all were satisfactory. While the District is required one nitrate sample every three
years, the District elects to monitor nitrates annually. The District has also monitored for
arsenic in 2003, and iron and manganese in 2006. The sample results for these
constituents have indicated a presence below the MCL.
The Marblemount system installation was completed in early 2007. Since the April 2007
start-up, the District has been conducting monthly Bacteriological tests. All
Bacteriological test results since system start-up have been satisfactory. In addition, the
District conducted a full inorganic compounds analysis upon system start-up. All primary
and secondary regulated inorganics are below the Specified Reporting Limits. The
District anticipates that the Department of Health will require additional testing for other
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parameters beginning in 2008, including lead and copper monitoring, volatile organic
compounds, herbicides and pesticides, and other standard monitoring requirements in
accordance with WAC 246-290. Additionally, the first Consumer Confidence Report for
the Marblemount system will be published in 2008, and will include a summary of all
water testing conducted in 2007.
4.6 System Deficiencies
Several deficiencies are noted in the District’s water systems. They are not critical to the
function or operability of the systems but do need to be addressed. Both facility and
operation/maintenance deficiencies are noted. Proposed corrections to noted facility
deficiencies have been included in the Capital Improvements listed in Section 5 of this
Plan.
4.6.1 Seismic Vulnerability
A consultant hired by the District completed a seismic vulnerability assessment of the
District’s major pumping and distribution storage facilities in the Judy Reservoir and
Fidalgo Island water systems. The consultant used the ground motions for a 1991 UBC
Seismic Zone 3 Design Base Earthquake (DBE) as a basis for estimating seismic
vulnerability. The consultant also reviewed local surficial geology to identify areas of
greatest potential for ground failure (liquefaction and/or landslide) and resultant damage
to pipelines and above-ground facilities. The majority of the facilities reviewed were
found to be adequate, though some deficiencies were noted. The consultant provided
recommendations for improvements to correct these deficiencies, summarized as follows:
4.6.1.1 Pump Stations

Non-structural elements (booster pumps, electrical cabinets, fire extinguishers,
etc.) should be anchored to resist 1.0G lateral force (the weight of the equipment).

To accommodate the loss of commercial power, pump stations should be fitted
with either electrical fittings to allow external emergency power from a portable
generator or with plumbing fittings to allow an external booster to pump around
the pumping station. This is a design requirement for new District pump stations.
4.6.1.2 Storage Reservoirs

The wood stave tank on Fidalgo Island at Similk Beach is considered highly
vulnerable and should be replaced. On-site replacement with steel tanks would be
effective. The District has constructed replacement storage at an alternate higher
location, using control valves to provide backup service to lower pressure zones;
the wood tank may be replaced in the future.

The anchorage of the Bay View Standpipe is considered inadequate by current
AWWA standards and should be upgraded. The District has constructed new
storage in the adjacent 290’ HGL pressure zone, which could allow the Standpipe
to be removed from service and avoid the cost of their repair. This is addressed
further in Section 5, Improvement Program.
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
All steel storage facilities should be reviewed for movement potential, and
retrofitted with flexible connections on connected piping where not already
provided.
4.6.1.3 Pipelines

Asbestos cement pipes, gray iron pipe, and unrestrained concrete cylinder pipe
located in the flood plain of the Skagit Valley are moderately to highly vulnerable
in a 1991 UBC Seismic Zone 3 DBE. This accounts for a large portion of the
Judy Reservoir system’s transmission main system and a moderate portion of the
District’s distribution system. While it is not cost-effective to replace these
vulnerable lines for only seismic vulnerability reasons, the District has placed a
higher priority on and has replaced a significant portion of its asbestos cement
pipe since 1994. Furthermore, seismic restraints will be considered for new major
transmission and distribution pipelines through alluvial soils where permanent
deformation could occur.
4.6.2 Low Pressure
The Judy Reservoir System experiences problems with low pressure at the remote north
and south ends of the 214’ HGL pressure zone during peak summer demands. The
solution to the problems at the north and south ends of the 214’ HGL pressure zone is to
follow the proposed replacement sizing guidelines indicated in Figure 4.1. The 12 and
16-inch loop west of Mount Vernon, to Pleasant Ridge, to Conway and back to Mount
Vernon will dramatically reduce peak hour head loss and improve pressures and flows.
Likewise, the 16-inch and 12-inch extensions north of Burlington and the proposed highpressure transmission line project from Sedro-Woolley to Burlington and north will
provide superior pressures and flows to the north end of the 214’ HGL pressure zone.
4.6.3 Storage
The District prefers to rely on its own storage of at least 800 gallons per service
connection. The Conway area does not have adequate on-site storage and must rely on
the storage in the City of Mount Vernon for a portion of their storage. The District
proposes new storage for Conway as indicated on Figure 5.2 and as outlined in more
detail in Sections 4.1.2 and 4.1.3. The Pleasant Ridge area, southwest of Mount Vernon,
would also benefit by the presence of distribution storage, also indicated on Figure 5.2.
4.6.4 Material Fatigue
Material fatigue is affecting a small portion of the District’s water mains and some
principal mainline meters. Those waterlines requiring unusually high levels of
maintenance or repair have been scheduled for replacement or major repair in Section 5,
Improvement Program. Three major mainline meters are out of service in the Judy
Reservoir System, and two other locations require new meters to properly account for use
in different geographic areas. These five meters are itemized in Section 6, Water Use
Efficiency, and their costs included in Section 5, Improvement Program. They will assist
in regional accountability and provide the basis for water audits to improve District water
use efficiency.
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4.6.5 Flow Velocity
Older District distribution pipelines were not sized to provide fire suppression flows. The
District adopted design criteria in 1994 that included a maximum flow velocity of 10 fps
in ferrous (iron and steel) pipes and 8 fps in non-ferrous (Asbestos Cement, plastic and
other non-iron) pipes, at all conditions. The new higher fire suppression flows required
under the CWSP exaggerate this difference, as evidenced by the District’s documented
hydraulic modeling (see Section 4.1). While all these distribution pipelines meet DOH
flow criteria, smaller pipes in several older pressure zones (in lower areas) are projected
to exceed District velocity criteria during fire suppression flows. Accordingly, when Fire
Marshals indicate that specific projects require fire suppression flows that exceed these
velocity criteria, the District will work with developers to replace these undersized
pipelines. All new District distribution pipelines in Section 5, Improvement Program,
meet the District’s velocity criteria.
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5 Improvement Program
The following describes the improvement program for the District, including how
facilities are determined to be eligible for replacement, construction of new facilities, and
system specific projects proposed to be constructed over the next 6, and next 20-years.
5.1 Improvement Criteria
Any water system will eventually deteriorate without maintenance, but even the bestmaintained water system eventually requires periodic facility replacement. Innovative
technology and water quality requirements usually also lead to improvements to keep the
water system operating cost-effectively. The Improvement Program in this Section
consists of two components: Replacement and New Construction. The District will size
new and replacement water plant and facilities based on the District’s design criteria
(Section 4) and sound engineering judgment, considering projected system demands in
and adjacent to an area being improved.
Land use along the route of any improvements shall be considered, but shall not drive
sizing; hydraulics must be paramount, especially when transporting water through rural
areas to meet water demands at a remote location.
5.2 Replacement Program
The District assumes its new water lines have a life span of 50-years and has adopted
material and installation criteria to ensure this. Much of the District’s existing water
plant is reaching its life span, and some has exceeded it (See Figure 5.1). Older and
undersized waterlines are continually stressed by the increasing demands on the system,
and require increased maintenance and repair. The District has in recent years stepped up
its replacement of such older and undersized water lines to offset increasing and more
expensive individual repairs. The District has looked across the breadth of its water
system replacement projects and established the following as its prioritized criteria for
replacement of existing water lines:
1. Waterlines requiring excessive maintenance (leaks, breaks, etc.).
2. Waterlines that contribute to water quality problems (galvanized steel, unlined
steel and iron, etc.).
3. Waterlines whose size restricts the capacity of flow available to an area; primarily
relates to domestic flow, but may also relate to fire flow requirements.
4. Waterlines of material more susceptible to breakage, especially in a seismic event
(ABS, thinwall PVC, AC, CI, CCP, etc.)
Combinations of the above criteria may accelerate the date at which a waterline is
replaced. Fire hydrants are automatically considered on all replacement projects to
ensure an area meets current requirements. Hydrant locations are coordinated with the
Fire Marshall having jurisdiction.
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5.3 New Construction
Water system growth is usually driven by population and commercial growth, and will
require expansion of the District’s infrastructure over time. There are also examples of
water system growth which are driven by grant funding to address public health issues or
environmental issues, such as the extension of a water pipeline into a low-flow basin.
The District is dedicated to coordinating District growth with local City and County
governments to ensure there is an adequate supply of water in growth areas where the
District has service responsibility. Specific projects, such as construction of new storage
reservoirs or treatment facilities, or expansion of existing related facilities, are addressed
to the extent growth projections require. New Remote Systems are addressed separately
in Section 10 of this Plan, Satellite System Program. New Construction activities may
carry its own individual installation and permitting requirements, similar to Construction
replacement activities.
5.4 Identification of Improvements
The District foresees the individual and groups of projects (indicated in Table 5.2 –
Capital Improvement Plan) over the next 20 years. Capital improvements are indicated in
Figure 5.2.
5.4.1 Judy Reservoir System Improvements
5.4.1.1 Source
As explained in Section 3, the District currently has municipal water rights and perfected
registered claims adequate for its 2020 average day capacity needs. As a follow-up to the
Skagit River MOA, the District has received funding from the State Public Works Board
for a replacement source from the Skagit River, to be used when instream flows set on
the Cultus Mountain streams limit the withdrawal available for District use. The new
Skagit River Diversion and Pipeline to provide up to 35.8 mgd of supplemental water
from the Skagit River to Judy Reservoir is scheduled to be complete by 2008.
The District will pursue engineering and environmental analysis of options to increase the
District’s source capacity for beyond year 2020 (listed in Section 3).
5.4.1.2 Treatment
Treatment improvements include both quantity and quality of water processed. As
follow-up to the Skagit River MOA, the District has received funding from the State
Public Works Board for additional filtration basins and associated improvements for the
Judy Reservoir WTP. These improvements are scheduled for completion by 2008.
The Safe Drinking Water Act, with all its associated Rules, is expected to drive the
requirements for additional treatment of both surface water and groundwater for many
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years to come. The District will continue to evaluate the best treatment methods for the
sources available to provide the highest possible quality water for the price.
5.4.1.3 Transmission Pipelines
As stated above, the District assumes its waterlines have a 50-year useful life span.
Portions of the transmission line loop will be reaching this 50-year hallmark during this
20-year planning period.
Table 5-1 below identifies these portions:
Table 5.1 - TRANSMISSION LINE LIFE CYCLE
Location
End of
50 Year
Pipe
Life
Date of
Material Installation Span
WTP to River Crossing
Overhead River Crossing
River Crossing to Sedro Woolley
Sedro Woolley to Burlington
Burlington to Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon to WTP
CCP
Steel
DI
CCP
CCP
CCP
1970
1958
1977
1977
1967
1961
2020
N/A
2027
2027
2017
2011
This Plan identifies improvements required for the period 2007 though 2027. Based on
growth projections and waning transmission line lifespans, the District has applied for,
and was awarded funding from the State for a replacement transmission pipeline between
Judy Reservoir and Mount Vernon. However, due to significantly increased construction
costs, only a portion of the pipeline will be replaced. The District is currently working on
plans to better assess the condition of the transmission pipelines, and determine if
replacement dollars can be better allocated to distribution improvements.
The overhead river crossing near Sedro-Woolley installed in 1958 is not subject to the
50-year life span criteria as it receives regular inspections and preventative maintenance
to keep it serviceable. However, the District plans to study a trenchless crossing of the
Skagit River as a long-term replacement.
5.4.1.4 Distribution System
To correct the deficiencies identified in Sections 4, the District developed a gridding plan
for the urban and rural areas. This “pregrid” will provide adequate domestic and required
fire flows for the foreseeable future and was used to complete the improvement schedule
in Table 5.2. See Figure 4.1.
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5.4.1.5 Storage
The projection of service connections indicated in Section3 was used to estimate future
additional storage. Additional storage will be required in the Mount Vernon area by the
year 2010 and Conway by 2020.
5.4.2 Fidalgo Island System Improvements
5.4.2.1 Source
The District serves its Fidalgo Island system with potable water purchased from the City
of Anacortes’ water system: future treatment improvements are the City’s responsibility.
5.4.2.2 Distribution System
Many of the distribution lines in the District’s Fidalgo Island system are older and/or of
lesser quality materials than the average waterlines in the Judy Reservoir system;
however, they are in good condition and require little maintenance. The standard line
replacement in the Fidalgo Island system will be of 8-inch ductile iron. This facilitates
fire flow capacity in residential cluster areas and provides water transfer capacity
between pressure zones. Some larger lines will form an arterial system, allowing flows
along greater distances with minimized frictional losses. Table 5.3 addresses specific
projects identified for the Fidalgo Island system.
5.4.2.3 Storage
The District’s storage facilities on Fidalgo Island consist of one steel, one wooden and
three concrete tanks, with a total capacity of 800,000 gallons. As indicated in Section 4,
the District intends to replace (or abandon) the remaining wooden tank, for increased
storage capacity and to minimize the potential for seismic damage.
5.4.3 Remote System Improvements
5.4.3.1 Alger
The Alger water system is relatively new and is not expected to require major
improvements. The Samish Water District (formerly Whatcom County Water District
No. 12) may pursue a waterline extension along Old Highway 99 North Road that would
link the Alger water system to the Judy Reservoir water system at Bow Hill Road. This
would provide water service potential from the Judy Reservoir system through Alger to
Lake Samish.
5.4.3.2 Cedargrove
The Cedargrove water system is in good condition and is not expected to require any
major distribution system improvements.
5.4.3.3 Marblemount
The Marblemount water system is in good condition and is not expected to require any
major distribution system improvements. Work on the ‘pump-to-dump’ mitigation
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pipeline controls and SCADA are expected to become compliant with the DOE water
rights mitigation plan.
5.4.3.4 Mountain View
The Mountain View water system is in good condition, however requests for service
continue in the general area. Because the system is almost to its allowable capacity of 14
connections, the District intends to pursue connection of the system to the adjacent Judy
Reservoir water system through a waterline extension.
5.4.3.5 Potlatch
The Potlatch water system is in adequate condition and is not expected to require any
major distribution system improvements.
5.4.3.6 Rockport
The Rockport water system is in good condition and is not expected to require and major
distribution system improvements.
5.4.3.7 Skagit View Village
The Skagit View Village water system is in good condition and is not expected to require
any major distribution system improvements. Routine maintenance to the existing well
and treatment housing building is expected. Treatment improvements may include
replacement of the existing aeration equipment, or the addition of a base to adjust pH.
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CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN: 2007 - 2013
Major Capital Improvements
Name
Cook Road Transmission Pipeline
Skagit River Pumping Station/Pipeline
WTP Filters
WTP Improvements
Transmission Line, Judy - MV (Phase 1)
Josh Wilson Transmission Line
E. Division Tank
E. Division Pump Station
Pleasant Ridge Area Tank
Bulson Road Area Tank
N Sedro Woolley Reservoir #2 (430'/600k)
SCADA
Hansen-Thomas Creek Pipeline
Transmission Line, Judy - MV
Dukes Hill Pump Station (214-459)
Total
Description
High Press 4.1-mile 18-inch
transmission pipeline
Raw water pump station on Skagit
River & pipeline to Judy Reservoir
2007
2006-08
Double Judy WTP Filter capacity
Parallel 1.6-mile 36-inch
transmission pipeline w/in Mount
Vernon
High Press 3.2-mile 16-inch
transmission pipeline
Year
2007
$ 5,000,000
2008
$ 3,500,000
2009
5 MG tank adjacent to exst 1MG tank $ 6,000,000
Standby PS to support 560 Zone
$
500,000
0.2 MG Tank, 290'
$
250,000
2009
0.5 MG Tank
$
600,000
2009
0.6 MG Tank
$
600,000
2010
2008
2009
$ 1,000,000
Parallel 5-mile 36-inch transmission
pipeline from WTP to Mount Vernon
2023
$
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150,000
2015
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN: 2007 - 2013
Routine Non-Facility Work Annual Budgets
Hydrant Upgrades
Blanket Work Orders
Computer Equipment/Software
Dam Financing
District Surveying/Mapping
Equipment
Fencing @ Judy Reservoir
General Upsizing
Mainline Meters
Office Equip / Furniture
WQ/Supply Improvements
Other LUDs (Samish River Park, Fonk Rd, etc)
Right of Way Clearing
$ 20,000.00
2007-2013
2007-2013
$65,000
2007-2013
$ 250,000.00
2007-2013
$ 40,000.00
2007-2013
$ 200,000.00
2007-2013
$ 10,000.00
2007-2013
$
$ 10,000.00
$ 30,000.00
120,000.00 2007-2013
2007-2013
2007-2013
2007-2013
$ 500,000.00
2007-2013
2007-2013
Reservoir Cathodic Protection
Telephone System
$ 50,000.00
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Year
$ 300,000.00
Other Special Projects
Misc. Building Improvements
Remove Similk Tank
System
Development
Fund
Revenue
Fund
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6 Conservation Program
6.1 Water Conservation Program
The District was required by WAC 246-290-830 to set measurable six-year Water Use
Efficiency Conservation Goals that maintain or reduce water use. These goals were adopted
on January 22, 2008 by the District’s Board, and are as follows:
1. Reduce unaccounted for water by one percent in the next six years.
2. Reduce consumption per Equivalent Residential Units from 178 gallons per service
per day to 175 gallons per service per day in the next six years.
3. Reduce the summer peak flows from 1.7 times Average Daily Demand to 1.6 times
Average Daily Demand.
If we assume successful water use reductions in keeping with the goals; Goal 1 should reduce
the water consumption by 1/6th percent for each of the next 6-years (assuming that this
unaccounted for water is leakage). Goal 2 would result in a 1.6-percent reduction in
residential demand at the end of 6-years. Residential demand constitutes around 58-percent
of the Judy System demands, and close to 100-percent of the satellite system demands. Goal
3 would decrease the maximum day from 1.7-times ADD to 1.6 times ADD. A
determination of 2027 demands is difficult to extrapolate from the conservation projections
because new customers are likely to use less water per capita owing to required efficient
fixtures; however for the purpose of this extrapolation, it is assumed that this would manifest
as a percentage decrease of the total.
System
Judy System
Fidalgo Island
Alger
Cedargrove
Rockport
Skagit View Village
System
Judy System
Fidalgo Island
Alger
Cedargrove
Rockport
Skagit View Village
2008
2,962,317
50,638
8,962
21,730
3,748
3,227
Projected Production Without Efficiency Measures
(1000's of Gallons)
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
3,014,303 3,067,201 3,121,027 3,175,798 3,231,530 3,288,241
51,125
51,617
52,113
52,615
53,121
53,631
9,120
9,280
9,443
9,608
9,777
9,949
21,939
22,150
22,363
22,577
22,795
23,014
3,784
3,821
3,858
3,895
3,933
3,971
3,258
3,289
3,321
3,353
3,386
3,418
2027
4,122,711
60,737
12,473
26,061
4,501
3,874
2008
2,952,798
50,419
8,924
21,636
3,731
3,213
Projected Production With Efficiency Measures
(1000's of Gallons)
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
3,057,345 3,110,998 3,165,593 3,221,146 3,277,674
51,393
51,888
52,387
52,890
53,399
9,240
9,402
9,567
9,735
9,905
22,054
22,266
22,480
22,696
22,914
3,804
3,841
3,878
3,916
3,954
3,275
3,307
3,339
3,371
3,403
2027
4,109,464
60,474
12,419
25,948
4,482
3,857
2009
3,004,617
50,904
9,080
21,844
3,768
3,244
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6.1.1 Water Use Efficiency
The District’s existing Water Use Efficiency Plan was developed with the Conservation
Planning Requirements manual, which was written jointly by the Washington Water
Utilities Council, DOH and DOE. The District’s Water Use Efficiency Plan includes
three basic elements: Water Use Data Collection, Demand Forecasting and a Water
Conservation Program. Water Use Data Collection and Demand Forecasting are
addressed in Section 3; this Section addresses the District’s Water Conservation Program.
6.2 Evaluation of water use efficiency Measures
The District’s Water Use Efficiency Program does not include emergency/droughtrelated short-term regulatory or mandatory measures: those are characteristic of an
emergency response plan, and are addressed in Appendix H, Emergency Response Plan.
This Program, rather, deals with water use efficiency as a long-term source of supply. As
recommended in the Conservation Planning Requirements manual, the District has
evaluated public education, technical assistance, system measures, incentives and other
water use efficiency measures in the development of its Conservation Program. These
measures are all addressed as follows with regard to current and planned implementation.
6.2.1 Public Education Program
6.2.1.1 School Outreach
The District staff visits classrooms of local elementary schools and provides the children
with guided tours of a stream diversion and Water Treatment Plant on the average of 2
times per school year. The District has made a standing offer to the local Educational
Service District (ESD) for further school involvement to help the schools meet their State
mandated environmental education requirements. The District has been active in this
school outreach program since around 1980.
6.2.1.2 Speakers Bureau
The District has historically provided information to local civic, commercial and wateroriented organizations since its inception. Water use efficiency has become a requested
topic at these presentations most noticeably since 1987. The District staff averages 2-3
such presentations per calendar year.
6.2.1.3 Program Promotion
The District uses its quarterly newsletter to customers, its website, its political
relationships to the County and local cities, and its service relationship with its customers
to promote its water use efficiency program.
Handouts: The District maintains a stocked display of free water use efficiency handouts
in the customer service area of its headquarters office in Mount Vernon. These may
include publications by the State Building Code Council, DOH, Washington State Energy
Office and AWWA. The District also offers Water Conserving Fixture information to
new customers; the District offers this same information though the County and local city
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building departments and permit centers. Handouts have been available from the District
since around 1992.
News Media: District executive and staff members have appeared in the local
newspapers and on local radio spots and shows dealing with water issues. The interview
topic will sometimes turn to water use efficiency. The District supports water use
efficiency as an avenue for reducing customers’ water consumption and mitigating the
need for additional water source development; both of these will lead to slower long-term
growth of utility bills.
6.2.2 Technical Assistance
6.2.2.1 Purveyor Assistance
The District wholesales water to two customers: the Samish Farms Water Association
and the North Fir Island Water Association. The District has ensured both customers
have copies of this Conservation Program and the Water Conservation Requirements
manual for their own use, and has offered assistance in the development of their
respective water use efficiency plans, if needed.
6.2.2.2 Customer Assistance
The District provides limited leak detection assistance to its customers, both from its
headquarters office in Mount Vernon and from District employees in the field. Free dye
tablets are available to customers to check for toilet tank leaks, as are copies of the
District’s step-by-step checklist that customers can follow to determine if they have a
leak in their service line or plumbing. This service has been available since around 1987.
6.2.2.3 Bill Showing Consumption History
Prior to 1991, the District’s utility billing was done by a consultant based on meter
readings done by District personnel. In 1991, the District purchased the necessary
computer and accessory equipment and began performing utility billing in-house. At that
time, the billing configuration was changed to include a block on the bill for consumption
history. Bills produced now show up to 12 past bills, including billing date, consumption
during each cycle, number of days in each billing cycle, and average daily consumption
for each cycle. The District believes this will help customers identify seasonal use
patterns and limit peak consumption, easily identify substantial increases and help the
customers identify leaks they may have on their side of their water meter.
6.2.3 System Measures
6.2.3.1 Source and Mainline Meters.
The District has metered its diversions from the streams, its production from Judy
Reservoir and wells, and mainline flow within the system since the District began
operation. All source meters and mainline meters are read on the first working day of
each month. Meter records dating back to 1971 are in a standardized format and are on
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file available for review in the District’s Engineering Department. The District’s Water
Treatment Plant for the Judy Reservoir system went on line in 1989, complete with an
automated trending package for flows and process functions. The District has used the
historical data gathered from this data accumulator to calculate the average day, peak day
and overall peak production demands of the Judy Reservoir system; those figures are
used in this Plan. The newest source and mainline meters in the District systems are
modern positive displacement and turbine meters (Sensus), paddlewheel meters (Data
Industrial), and reversible-flow magnetic meters (Toshiba); many of the older mainline
meters are propeller (Sparling) meters. The District has identified some of these older
mainline meters which are not functional at the writing of this Plan, and others whose
accuracy may be in question. In support of future water audits, the District is continuing
its meter rehabilitation/replacement program that will ensure high reliability and accuracy
of mainline meter readings.
6.2.3.2 Service Meters.
All water services in the District’s water systems are metered. Service meters range in
size from 5/8-inch positive displacement water meter (the standard residential service) to
8-inch fireline meters with detector check assemblies. All new service meters, other than
for single family residential water services, are sized based on the IAPMO Uniform
Plumbing Code. The District tracks high use meters to check up on their accuracy, and
meter readers routinely replace service meters which show signs of inaccuracy and
failure. Approximately 680 service meters 1-inch and under were replaced in 2000, plus
21 meters between 1-1/2-inch and 4-inch. The District has recently started to track
annual flow through its meters as a gauge of meter accuracy, and is looking at
testing/replacing the 280 identified service meters that exceed the meter manufacturer’s
warranted volume.
During 2006-07, the District has significantly increased its service meter replacement
program. Over 6,000 radio-read meters were installed, which will both reduce the
workload associated with reading meters, and also increase the overall accuracy of the
system resulting in a decrease in unaccounted for water.
6.2.3.3 Unaccounted-for Water/Leak Detection
The District’s recorded unaccounted-for water (fire flows, hydrant testing, water system
flushing, unmetered consumption and leaks) had averaged around 25 percent for the
period 1984 through 1990, peaking at 26.59 percent at the end of 1990. In 1991, the
District established an in-house water accountability program. District field employees,
especially water quality technicians, followed up on suspected leaks and tested ponded
and flowing water near existing District water lines for chlorine residuals. Several large
leaks were discovered and repaired. The District reduced the 12-month average from
over 25 percent in 1990 to under 15 percent as of October 1992. The District actually
produced less water in 2000 than in 1990 while providing service to approximately 4,000
additional customers. The amount of water unaccounted for in 2006 averaged 7-percent
for the year for all District water systems.
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The next proposed step in reducing unaccounted-for water is to perform a water audit.
Each District water system is divided into subareas based on the placement of source and
mainline meters in each water system. The District will follow the guidance in the
AWWA M36, Water Audits and Leak Detection manual, to identify areas with meter
inaccuracies and/or leakage losses. Once these areas have been identified, the District
will first verify and reinstate as needed the accuracy of large meters and second, if water
loss is still greater than AWWA allowable leakage standards, have a consultant perform
leak detection analysis of transmission and distribution pipelines in the subarea.
Identified leaks will be verified and repaired. These measures are dependent on the
District repairing and/or replacing deficient mainline meters as identified above. Also,
the District’s existing customer billing information is insufficient to audit by subarea. An
update to the Districts billing system should allow for an opportunity to audit on zones of
the system measured by master meters.
The District has also hired a leak detection service in 2004 through 2006 to investigate
approximately 25-miles of pipeline annually. This leak detection service investigates the
sounds of leaks, and overall has found the District’s facilities to be in good condition.
Table 6.1 – Unaccounted water all District Systems
Year
Total Production (MG)
Total Unaccounted (MG)
Percentage Unaccounted
2004
2,978
260
2005
2,879
282
2006
2,952
197
9.7%
9.9%
7.0%
As evidenced by Table 6.1, the District has averaged less than 10-percent unaccounted
water for the past 3-years on an all system basis.
Table 6.2 presents unaccounted water on a system-specific basis. The District is
investigating anomalies in the readings for many of these systems. The majority of the
systems have a three-year average of less than 10-percent unaccounted for water. These
systems will not require a water-loss control action plan. If the corrected data reveals that
there was over 10-percent unaccounted for water for any system, a water-loss control
action plan will be written and implemented.
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Judy System
Year
Total Production (MG)
Total Billed
Total Unaccounted (MG)
Percentage Unaccounted
Alger System
Year
Total Production (MG)
Total Billed
Total Unaccounted (MG)
Percentage Unaccounted
Cedargrove System
Year
Total Production (MG)
Total Billed
Total Unaccounted (MG)
Percentage Unaccounted
Fidalgo Island System
Year
Total Production (MG)
Total Billed
Total Unaccounted (MG)
Percentage Unaccounted
2004
2,881
2,670
212
7.4%
2004
8.03
6.49
2
19.1%
2004
14.87
8.66
6
41.8%
2004
58.62
48.88
10
16.6%
2005
2,793
2,529
264
9.4%
2005
8.38
6.28
2
25.0%
2005
5.62
8.08
-2
-43.7%
2005
56.42
43.48
13
22.9%
Marblemount System **System not online until 2007
Year
2004
2005
Total Production (MG)
Total Billed
Total Unaccounted (MG)
2006
2,861
2,659
202
7.1%
2006
8.66
7.81
1
9.8%
2006
3.17
9.16
-6
-189.3%
2006
54.82
46.05
9
16.0%
2006
Percentage Unaccounted
Mountain View System
Year
Total Production (MG)
Total Billed
Total Unaccounted (MG)
Percentage Unaccounted
Potlatch System
Year
Total Production (MG)
Total Billed
Total Unaccounted (MG)
Percentage Unaccounted
Rockport System
Year
Total Production (MG)
Total Billed
Total Unaccounted (MG)
Percentage Unaccounted
2004
1.04
1.05
-0.01
-0.7%
2004
0.62
0.52
0
16.0%
2004
3.68
3.47
0.21
5.6%
2005
1.07
1.10
-0.03
-2.9%
2005
0.45
0.72
0
-60.0%
2005
3.24
3.45
-0.06
-2.0%
Skagit View Village System **System not online until 2006
Year
2004
2005
Total Production (MG)
Total Billed
Total Unaccounted (MG)
Percentage Unaccounted
2006
1.16
1.20
-0.04
-3.3%
2006
0.46
0.43
0
4.9%
2006
3.81
3.83
-0.01
-0.2%
2006
3.17
2.90
0.09
2.7%
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6.2.4 Incentives/Other Measures
6.2.4.1 Effects of Water Conserving Fixtures on Future Demand.
The Washington State Building Code, RCW 19.27, was revised in 1989, requiring all
plumbing fixtures installed in new construction and remodels on or after July 1, 1993 to
meet specified water use efficiency standards. The District’s 2007 single family
residential consumption averaged 178 gpsd.
As indicated in Section 3, the District’s projected growth is expected to be predominantly
from new construction. The District expects new homes to average approximately 150
gpsd.
A more complete analysis of the role of conservation, including existing customer
remodels will take place during the District’s development of the water conservation
program responding to the Municipal Water Law requirements. Copies of conservation
literature utilized by the District have been included in Appendix O.
6.2.4.2 Single-family/Multifamily kits.
As addressed above in Program Promotion and Customer Assistance, the District already
provides assistance to its customers on request. This assistance is currently limited to
providing access to water use efficiency literature at its headquarters office and through
local building departments and providing free toilet tank leak detection dye tablets on
request. The District is developing a list of simple water conserving retrofits, their
approximate cost, local suppliers and payback potential. This list will be distributed to
existing customers as a billing insert, and will be provided to new customers when they
sign up for a service.
6.2.4.3 Nurseries/Agriculture
The District has identified its largest water consumers to be commercial and agriculture
customers with large demands for process water, livestock and irrigation watering (see
Section 4). Many of the agriculture irrigation customers are already using drip irrigation
systems to optimize water use; several of these irrigators have interruptible flow contracts
with the District, requiring them to stop consumption if their high demands are adversely
impacting domestic use in their area of the distribution system. The District requires new
large irrigation customers to submit Blaney-Criddle Water Balance calculations to the
District for review before the new irrigation service is approved and installed.
6.2.4.4 Landscape Management/Playfield
The District has developed a demonstration garden in the front of its Mount Vernon
headquarters facility, replacing portions of the grass area behind the existing fountains.
This garden is an educational tool for local residents, public agencies and commercial
enterprises; focusing on low maintenance, low water use, and native plants.
The District hopes to include water use comparisons and other information for the
various landscape scenarios presented. The garden may also present information on
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evapo-transpiration (ET) rates for the area and include a small weather station and soil
moisture probes to control the District’s irrigation system. The District is also
considering sponsoring workshops for low water-use landscaping, possibly using a
portion of the garden as a training site.
The District has a water contract with a 730-acre golf course/country club which
identifies their peak projected irrigation demands, requires that they have an interruptible
supply for irrigation, and allows the District to provide recycled water at the District’s
discretion for irrigation purposes. The District has similar irrigation agreement with
commercial agriculture customers. While these “interruptible supply” terms are more for
emergency response to a water shortage, they send the strong message to these customers
that their individual actions towards water use efficiency and reductions in peak demands
will mitigate emergency shutoffs. The District’s design standards require submission of
Blaney-Criddle water balance calculations for large irrigation services to ensure water
use efficiency planning.
6.2.4.5 Conservation Pricing
The District had historically used a declining block scale for its water rates, as
recommended by consultants from the 1960s and before.
The District calculated that single and/or elderly customers on a fixed income use
approximately 300 cf of water per month. Rate structures had offered the first 300 cf of
water “free” every month for the minimum charge (based on meter size). This first 300
cf was considered by the District to be “survival water”. Water over 2,000 cf was
available at a lower unit cost as it was relatively inexpensive to produce. Skagit County
appeared to have a plentiful water supply and water use efficiency was not a strong
consideration in the past.
The 1999 rates through 2,000 cf/month are more than twice that of the 1981 rates, but are
about 4 times the 1981 rate over 2,000 cf/month. As a result of the 1992 and subsequent
rate increases, some of the larger customers have reduced their overall water
consumption.
6.2.4.6 Recycling/Reuse
As indicated above, specific commercial enterprises are pursuing reusing water in their
processes in an effort to reduce their utility bills. There is increased interest in Skagit
County regarding recycling/reuse of sanitary wastewater per the new Interim Wastewater
Reuse Regulations. An engineer for a local golf course/housing development has
indicated that the reclaimed water from the proposed homes surrounding the golf course
will be used for irrigating the course; irrigation demands exceeding available reclaimed
water supply will be augmented by potable water. This approach is consistent with over
1,000 similar systems nationwide, and will be supported by the District to the extent that
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District operations associated with the system remain economically viable and financially
feasible, and meet State water quality requirements.
Local municipalities are largely leading the effort for wastewater reuse, as they own and
operate wastewater treatment facilities within their jurisdictions. The City of Burlington
and the City of Sedro-Woolley are both in the preparation stage to use recycled effluent
for irrigation of some of their parks.
Figure 20 indicates the current sewage treatment facilities within Skagit County. These
facilities are all operated by local government groups other than the District. The District
is supportive of the use of recycled effluent, but has not been directly involved because
the District does not process wastewater.
Per the interim planning guide for the municipal water law; the water system plan should
include the following minimum elements:
• An inventory of large water users:
The District identified it’s largest water customers in Table 4.4 of Section 4.
• Identification of potential reclaimed water users:
Of these customers, three are irrigation customers which could potentially be
users of reclaimed water: Northwest Horticulture, Skagit Gardens Inc, and the
Eaglemont Golf Club.
• Estimates of how much water could be saved by development of reclaimed water
projects:
By billing designation, approximately seven-percent of water produced by the
District is used by an irrigation customer. This does not include water used for
irrigation purposes by other accounts (commercial, residential, governmental,
etc).
• Identification of opportunities that your system intends to pursue within the next
six years:
As mentioned in this section the District does not own any wastewater treatment
facilities. Therefore the District does not own the rights to use this effluent as
reclaimed water.
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• A brief analysis of the financial and operation feasibility of identified opportunities
Currently this is not-applicable to the District for the reasons mentioned above.
6.3 Water Use Efficiency Alternatives
6.3.1 Mainline Meter Rehabilitation/Replacement Program
Description: Repair/replace all mainline meters which are not functional and install new
meters where there are none. At the writing of this Plan, there are 4 dead mainline meters
in the Judy Reservoir system which will be replaced or repaired:
Blodgett Rd PRV meter
SR 20 and District Line Road
Clear Lake reservoir
9th Street 214 Meter
All source and mainline meters in all other District water systems appear to be running
accurately. However, repairs and replacement are often required on a non-predictable
basis.
Schedule:
As indicated.
Budget:
$10,000 per year.
Monitoring Requirements:
monthly.
The District will continue to check mainline meter readings
Target Water Savings Projections: None initially. This is the first step in performing
the water audit and reducing unaccounted-for water.
6.3.2 Water Audit
Description:
Perform a water audit of all District water systems.
Schedule:
In 2010, assuming new billing software is functional.
Budget:
2010 engineering budget will allot time for District staff to perform audits
on Judy Reservoir water systems. This audit requires the implementation of new
financial software which will track consumption by location more accurately than the
current system.
Monitoring Requirements: District engineering and operations staff must monitor fire,
flushing and meter reading operations in the year prior to the audit to ensure maximum
accountability of water produced.
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Target Water Savings Projections: None initially. This is the first step in performing
the water audit and reducing unaccounted-for water.
6.3.3 Meter Accuracy Check/Transmission Line Leak Detection
Description: The District will calculate the total allowable leakage per AWWA
standards by area. Once these areas of higher calculated loss have been identified by
water audits, the District will check major service meters for inaccuracies. Once satisfied
of meter accuracy and if more than the allowable loss remains, the District will schedule
a pipeline leak detection service.
Schedule:
Those areas with more than the allowable loss should be prioritized based
on water lost, and meters tested in that priority. It is expected that all large meters in an
area would be tested and verified/replaced within 3 years after that area was identified
with excessive losses. It is also expected that those areas with remaining losses should
have a leak detection survey completed within 2 years after completion of meter accuracy
checks. The Judy Reservoir systems may take up to 10 years to complete leak detection
if all subareas of the system are involved.
Budget:
No specific budget has been allotted. Meter accuracy checks are
considered “maintenance”, as are leak detection activities. Actual leak detection
activities may not commence until the year after meter checks are complete to allow for
budget adjustments. Leaks detected will be repaired as soon as practical and financially
feasible.
Monitoring Requirements: District engineering staff performing the original audit will
regularly follow up on the progress of meter accuracy checks, and will prepare budgets
and monitor progress of any leak detection activities.
Target Water Savings Projections: None initially. This is the first step in performing
the water audit and reducing unaccounted-for water.
6.3.4 Selected Water Use Efficiency Activities
Selection of the most cost-effective water use efficiency alternatives from the list above
is based on evaluation of each alternative as a source of future water. Through the public
process required by the Municipal Water Law, additional water use efficiency activities
will be evaluated by the District and be included in future water system plan updates.
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7 Source Water Protection
7.1 Cultus Mountain Raw Water Diversions
The Judy Reservoir system currently receives all its raw water from four streams on the
Cultus mountains (Turner, Mundt, Gilligan and Salmon Creeks). These streams have a
tributary area as shown in Figure 7.1.
The tributary area is predominately industrial forestry land, though there is some low
density residential development in the Janicki Road area. Much of the forestry land is
owned and managed by Longview Fibre. The District has an agreement with Longview
Fibre regarding the management of this land which includes minimizing spray used in
this area. District staff also conducts an annual watershed tour with Longview Fibre to
discuss issues related to the watershed.
Diversions from the Cultus streams are regulated by water treatment plant staff. The
turbidity in the streams is monitored, so that water is not taken when the stream has highturbidity such as following large rainfall.
The Districts Cultus Watershed control plan is included in Appendix J. There has not
been significant progress from the 1994 plan. The District continues to have regular
input and communication with Longview Fibre regarding the maintenance activities in
the watershed; however, no new written agreement has been executed. The District
intends to have our Environmental Services Coordinator pursue such an agreement within
calendar year 2008.
7.2 Skagit River Watershed Protection Plan
In 2003, the City of Anacortes and the District entered into a Memorandum of Agreement
to jointly conduct a watershed control plan for the Skagit River. This plan was prepared
by EES and written in 2004. This report identifies hazards to the Skagit River water
quality, and contact information for emergency responders (such as WSDOT for
chemical spills).
The District and Anacortes intend to enter into Memorandums of Understanding with
Cities that discharge effluent to the Skagit River to be notified of any unusual events. The
District has not begun to utilize the Skagit River Diversion, and will likely not begin to use
the diversion until 2009. The District will work with the City of Anacortes to have these
agreements signed prior to operation of the diversion pump station. The Skagit River
Watershed Protection Plan is included in Appendix J.
7.3 Remote Systems Wellhead protection
The Source Water Control Program for the wellheads at Alger, Cedargrove, and Rockport
are covered in Appendix J. Additional plans for the District’s newly acquired systems at
Skagit View Village and Marblemount are under development. The District plans to
submit a WHPP to DOH and conduct education/notification for Skagit View Village and
Marblemount within calendar year 2008.
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7-125
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8 Operation and Maintenance Program
This section of the Water System Plan discusses the District’s Operation and
Maintenance Program, including Operator certification, operating procedures,
maintenance schedules, emergency response, water quality monitoring, and crossconnection control. It covers all District water system infrastructure, interties and the
Skagit Regional Supply System.
8.1 Routine Operation Procedures
The General Manager performs the day-to-day executive operation of the District,
including directing emergency response to major disasters. The Finance Manager
oversees all financial, information systems and storekeeping operations of the District.
The Auditor prepares all budgetary estimates and oversees fiscal and inventory control
processes. The Engineering Manager oversees all engineering design, plan checks,
surveying, water quality, cross-connection control and water supply operations of the
District. The Operations Manager oversees distribution system operations and the
management of District construction contracts. The Planning Manager oversees all long
range planning and supports various engineering functions. The Superintendent oversees
the Construction Department and coordinates all field construction, maintenance and
meter reading operations by District personnel. Figure 8.1 identifies the current
organization of the District.
8.1.1 Staffing and Operator Certification
The Washington State Water Works Certification Program requires minimum levels of
operator competency at various stations within the District organization to ensure the
water systems are run prudently and the water supplies meet minimum standards. The
Mandatory Water Works Certification Law requires that each individual responsible for
daily technical operation of the water system(s) be certified as a Water Distribution
Manager. The Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Board of Examiners has
adopted a policy which requires shift supervisor positions, any position which involves
sole decision-making authority for major water quality control programs, and any
position which involves the overall daily technical operation of a public water system,
distribution system, or purification plant to be staffed by individuals who hold the
appropriate operator certificate. Table 8-1 indicates the staff members currently certified.
The District supports the certification program by educating its employees when it is
practical and/or the training is required. The District works closely with the local
AWWA subsection and the Washington Environmental Training Center (WETRC) to
ensure employees receive their required triennial 3.0 continuing education units (CEUs)
to maintain their certifications. Personnel are encouraged to attend local (within 100
miles) programs when they are offered, provided the session is applicable to the
employee’s position at the District. The District also funds attendance at training outside
the state of Washington if the benefits to the employee and the District are significant.
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Figure 8-1 – District Organization Structure
8-128
Table 8.1 – District Staff Waterworks Certification
Certification:
Required
Actual
Cert.
Cert.
Level
Cert.
Level
Number
Water Distribution Manager:
General Manager
Engineering Manager
WTP Superintendent
WTP Operator
WTP Operator
WTP Operator
WTP Operator
WTP Operator
Inspector
Water Equip Maint Worker
Water Equip Maint Worker
Engineering Technician
Engineering Technician
Info/Communication Admin
Constr Superintendent
Asst Construction Superintendent
Asst Construction Superintendent
Constr Crew Supervisor
Constr Crew
Constr Crew
Constr Crew
Carpenter/ Constr Crew
Constr Crew
Constr Crew
N/R
WDM4
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
N/R
WDM4
WDM4
WDM4
WDM3
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM4
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
10370
2791
2794
4988
949
3874
4760
Water Distribution Specialist:
Surveyor/Locator
Water Quality Technician
Water Equip Maint Worker
N/R
N/R
N/R
WDS2
WDS1
WDS1
7672
8251
8234
Ness, Kerry
Holmstrom, Dar
Fox, Mike
Yeager, Darrell
Cross-Connection Control:
WTP Operator
Inspector
Inspector
N/R
N/R
N/R
CCS1
CCS1
CCS1
949
7865
7891
Weaver, Jim
McConnell, Doug
Shepherd, Guy
Backflow Assembly Tester
Contract Administrator
Inspector
Inspector
N/R
N/R
N/R
BAT1
BAT1
7865
7891
McConnell, Doug
Shepherd, Guy
Campeau, George
Water Treatment Plant Operator:
WTP Superintendent
WTP Operator
WTP Operator
WTP Operator
WTP Operator
WTP Operator
WTP Operator
Water Equip Maint Worker
Info/Communication Admin
WTPO4
WTPO2
WTPO2
WTPO2
WTPO2
WTPO2
WTPO2
N/R
N/R
WTPO4
WTPO4
WTPO4
WTPO4
WTPO3
WTPO3
WTPO2
WTOPIT
WTOPIT
2794
949
Hamilton, Greg
Weaver, Jim
Moore, John
Wardell, Dale
Esser, Russ
Brusseau, Thad
Segebrecht, Bob
Fox, Mike
Chrysler, Gary
Position
8-129
6820
8444
8234
7738
7647
7621
10183
10154
10127
10175
3874
4988
8234
7621
Name
Johnson, Dave
Peterka, Greg
Hamilton, Greg
Esser, Russ
Weaver, Jim
Wardell, Dale
Drummond, Don
Brusseau, Thad
Birkett, Tom
Bos, Todd
Fox, Mike
Felix, Dan
Hiltz, Tim
Chrysler, Gary
Spangler, Brad
Kennedy, Gary
Deleeuw, Don
Sheahan, Ron
McCoy, Ed
Lee, Jim
Staniford, Al
Cook, Lorry
Humerickhouse, Ron
Middleton, Jerry
The District has sponsored an average of two classes per year for the last four years
through WETRC, supporting CEUs for its employees and those of other public water
systems in the area. Class subjects sponsored by the District have included Water System
Construction Inspection, Competent Person Training, Pipeline Corrosion Control,
Management of Small Water Systems, First Aid and CPR, Defensive Driving, and
Design Consultant Selection and Management.
8.1.2 Water Treatment Facilities
The District operates water treatment facilities for its Judy Reservoir, Alger, Cedargrove,
Mountain View and Potlatch water systems and is in the process of adding a treatment
facility for the Rockport water system. The Fidalgo Island system receives treated water
from the City of Anacortes.
8.1.2.1 Judy Reservoir Water Treatment Plant
The Judy Reservoir Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is a direct filtration facility and was
placed in service in 1990. The WTP has an average capacity of 12 mgd with a peak
capacity of 18 mgd. At the time of this Water System Plan writing, construction is
underway for the addition of filters and flocculation basins to increase the capacity of the
WTP to 24 mgd average production and 30 mgd peak production.
8.1.2.1.1 Filtration Process
In general, the raw water impounded in Judy Reservoir flows by gravity from one or
more gates of the intake tower in Judy Reservoir to the raw water pumping station (see
Figure 8.2). The raw water is disinfected with chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and pumped up to
the control building; carbon dioxide and coagulant aids are also added at this stage. The
water flows through an in-line static flash mixer to two 2-stage flocculation basins. The
water flows from there to the filter basins. There are four filter basins, 500 square feet
each, utilizing a high speed filtration process through coal and sand filter media. The
filtered water is disinfected again with chlorine and flows by gravity to three finished
water reservoirs (clearwells) near the WTP; these include one steel 3 MG tank and two
steel 1.22 MG tanks. Caustic soda (NaOH) and ammonia (NH3) are added before the
clearwells to produce a chloramines residual. Finished water from the clearwells flows
by gravity down the transmission lines to the distribution system and the District’s
customers.
The WTP filters are alternated to maintain finished water production, and backwashed
regularly to remove suspended solids, including micro-organisms, which are trapped by
the filter media. The filter backwash water is diverted to the backwash water recycle
basin; filter-to-waste water is also diverted to the recycle basin. Two recycle pumps send
the backwash and filter-to-waste water from the recycle basin to one of two 19,000
square foot settling lagoons. The majority of the water from the lagoons is decanted back
to Judy Reservoir and the backwash solids remain. The District contracts for the solids to
be removed and disposed of off site.
8.1.2.1.2 Staffing
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The WTP is semi-automated to allow for unattended operation, although there are
operators on site 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Operators work in three shifts:
a.
The Day Shift Operator works from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and is directly
responsible for the WTP operation while on duty. The Operator must collect all
pertinent readings and perform all lab checks, dosage checks, equipment
inspections, routine operations and maintenance, and other tasks as assigned. Day
Shift Operators change shifts every five weeks.
b.
The Night Shift Operator works from 8:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and is directly
responsible for the WTP operation while on duty. The Operator must collect all
pertinent readings and perform all lab checks, dosage checks, equipment
inspections, routine operations and maintenance, and other tasks as assigned.
Night Shift Operators change shift every five weeks.
c.
The Relief Shift Operator works from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is directly
responsible for WTP operations until the Day Shift Operator comes on duty at
10:00 a.m. After that, the Relief Shift Operator takes care of maintenance and
repair operations that the oncoming operator would have difficulty starting and
finishing in a timely manner without interruptions of routine operations. On
weekends, the Relief Shift Operator checks the boat house, stream diversions,
stream gauges, and performs grounds and vehicle maintenance and other tasks as
assigned. Relief Shift Operators change shifts every five weeks.
The Operator on duty is required to completely fill out the Weekly Operator Checklist for
their period of duty, record all chemical feed data, record all completed maintenance
tasks in equipment logs, calculate and log CT at the end of the shift, and record a brief
description of shift events on the daily calendar.
The WTP Superintendent schedules work shifts, oversees the day to day operation of the
WTP and assumes operator duties as scheduled. The control building at the WTP is
centrally located (see Figure 8.2), allowing Operators to control and monitor WTP
functions and receive WTP alarms. The control system includes trending software to log
data regarding WTP processes and production. The WTP control system is the basis for
the District's Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, providing
monitoring and alarm indication from remote water facilities, remote data logging and
control of specific functions at the remote sites. The SCADA system will be covered in
more detail later.
WTP Operators visit the four Cultus Mountain streams daily during the regular work
week to check diversions, take flow measurements, read the stream gauges and perform
routine maintenance.
8.1.2.1.3 Shutdown and Startup Operations
A brief summary of planned WTP shutdown and startup procedures are as follows:
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PLANNED WTP SHUTDOWN
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
At the main control panel (CP-1), switch all sample pumps (except finished
water) to “manual”.
Turn raw water pump(s) off.
Close all filter effluent valves.
At the main control panel (CP-1), switch all caustic soda and ammonia pumps to
“off”.
Close both chlorine cylinder valves.
Close PAC and CAP feed lines at the application points before the static mixer
raw water pipeline.
Close carbon dioxide gas and feed water (**do not close application point**)
Check fail-to-close valves at ammonia and caustic soda have indeed closed.
Verify W-2 feed water is off at each system; verify bypass water is also off.
Verify that chlorine dioxide system is off, that makeup water is off and that
chlorinators have shut down.
If plant effluent sample pump is to be turned off, turn analyzer “off” (inside key
pad chamber)
WTP STARTUP
1.
2.
If Panorama system has been shut down, switch both W-1 pumps and Surface
Wash pumps to “manual” at the pump station (to prevent the automatic sequence
of the pump systems).
Disinfection start-up:
a.
Open chlorine cylinder valves
b.
Switch volume regulators to (1) operating (1) reserve
c.
Set chlorine dioxide generator to “local start”.
d.
Open chlorine dioxide generator feed water slowly
e.
Turn trim pot on chloramatic valve “off” (clockwise).
f.
Use thumb screw to set chlorite flow to anticipated pounds per day.
g.
Set generator chlorinator to “manual” and adjust Cl2 as above with +/-.
3.
Chemical feed start-up:
a.
Open CAP and PAC application points
b.
Open CO2 feed water
c.
Slowly open CO2 gas
d.
Open Cl2 bypass valve
e.
Open any miscellaneous CAP and PAC valves that are closed
f.
Start CAP and PAC manually and set to desired RPM setting
g.
Verify that feed water and bypass water are open and flowing
h.
Start FAP system manually
4.
5.
Verify caustic and ammonia are still in the “off” position.
Start raw water pump.
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6.
7.
8.
Start chlorine to filters; start filter to waste; do not overload Cl2 to plant effluent
without flow; if required, close plant rotameter; if Cl-17 analyzer was “off”,
switch to “on”.
Start ammonia and caustic soda when filters are on line.
Return chlorine dioxide generator to “remote start”; trim pot to desired gain;
switch chlorinators and chemical feed to “auto”; switch sample pumps to “auto”.
A detailed description of Water Treatment Plant operations are included in Appendix G,
Water Treatment Plant Operations Manuals. Maintenance and operations of specific
WTP components are included in manuals at the WTP.
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8.1.2.2 Alger Water Treatment System
Test results indicated that the dissolved manganese in the Alger groundwater was slightly
above the MCL, however the previous system had not chlorinated the water and it had
not been a problem. With a new chlorinator being planned for the Alger system and the
District's past experience at Cedargrove, the District planned for and installed an ATEC
Model 18-48-04 Iron and Manganese Removal System. A chlorinator is installed in the
pumphouse at the wellsite, and automatically injects chlorine into the source water
upstream of the filter system whenever the well pump is running, precipitating the
dissolved manganese. The chlorinated groundwater then flows through the filter media
in its four 18-inch diameter pressure vessels, removing the precipitated minerals. The
ATEC system operates at about 45 gpm and backwashes after 65,000 gallons of
production for 3 minutes for each of the four pressure vessels. The system is over 90
percent efficient, dropping the iron from 0.012 ppm in the raw water to 0.001 parts per
million in the finished water, and dropping manganese from 0.096 ppm in the raw water
to 0.006 parts per million in the finished water. The O&M manual for the filtration
system is included in Appendix G. Even after the filtration system, the chlorine residual
of the finished water averages 0.50 ppm at the pumphouse and about 0.05 ppm at the
most remote point in the water system. The well system is controlled by the SCADA
system, allowing the District remote control at any time and immediate response to
specific alarms/failures. See Section 9.3, Emergency Response Procedures. The District
monitors the well system, chlorinator and filtration system regularly, and water quality
samples are taken as required.
8.1.2.3 Cedargrove Water Treatment System
As a precautionary measure, the District had opted to chlorinate the source water for the
Cedargrove water system. This chlorination acted to precipitate the dissolved iron out of
the groundwater. Though the dissolved iron was below the MCL, iron precipitate would
settle out in the waterlines and in the distribution reservoir, damaging customers' laundry
and causing aesthetic problems in the distribution system. As a result, the District has
recently installed an ATEC Model 24-48-04 Iron and Manganese Removal System and
will soon be adding a chlorine generator. The existing chlorinator installed in the
pumphouse automatically injects chlorine into the source water upstream of the filter
system whenever the well pump is running, precipitating the dissolved iron and
manganese. The chlorinated groundwater then flows through the filter media in its four
18-inch diameter pressure vessels, removing the precipitated minerals. The ATEC
system operates at about 130 gpm and backwashes after about 62,000 gallons of
production for 3 minutes for each of the four pressure vessels. The system is over 75
percent efficient, dropping the iron from 0.122 ppm in the raw water to 0.030 parts per
million in the finished water, and dropping manganese from 0.094 ppm in the raw water
to 0.009 parts per million in the finished water. The O&M manual for the filtration
system is included in Appendix G. Even after the filtration system, the chlorine residual
of the finished water averages about 0.8 ppm at the pumphouse and 0.3 ppm at the most
remote point in the water system. The well system is equipped with a telemetry alarm
system, which notifies the District of specific failures at any time. See Section 8.4,
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Emergency Response Procedures. The District monitors the well system, chlorinator and
telemetry weekly, and water quality samples are taken as required.
8.1.2.4 Marblemount Treatment System
The Marblemount water system currently includes no water treatment.
8.1.2.5 Mountain View Treatment System
An inorganic analysis of the groundwater source for the Mountain View water system
indicates the presence of manganese over the maximum contaminant limit (MCL) and
hardness of 115 mg/l. The well system installer provided an ion exchange treatment
system to reduce the manganese and hardness in the finished water. The ion exchange
system has dual resin tanks and is sized to serve a peak demand of 49 gpm from each
tank. The counter in each tank’s controller keeps track of the volume of water passed and
backwashes alternate tanks automatically after 15,000 gallons have been processed; this
allows the second tank to serve while the first tank is being backwashed. The backwash
cycle takes approximately 108 minutes and the water system can be adequately served
from one tank alone for this duration. The District monitors the salt level in the brine
tanks regularly, and measures the static well water level and reads source meter
consumption on a monthly basis. Preventative maintenance on the ion exchange system
is performed per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
8.1.2.6 Potlatch Water Treatment System
The District constructed a reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration facility as a source of
potable water for the Potlatch water system on the west shore of Guemes Island.
Seawater is collected in an infiltration gallery below the marine water line and lifted to
the RO facility above the high water line. The seawater is processed through a Vaponics
Model VMMF-48F multi-media filter and an Osmonics Model OSMO-20SWHR(PA)28K-DLX saltwater RO system, providing about 20 gallons per minute
continuously while the system is running. The system effluent is returned to the shoreline
through a gravity drain line. The facility was constructed to allow the filter media to be
changed and other maintenance performed without dismantling the system. The O&M
manual for the filtration system is included in Appendix G. The chlorine residual of the
finished water averages about 1.2 ppm at the pumphouse and 0.2 ppm at the most remote
point in the water system. The RO facility is controlled by the SCADA system, allowing
the District remote control at any time and immediate response to specific
alarms/failures. See Section 8.4, Emergency Response Procedures. The District
monitors the RO system regularly through SCADA, and water quality samples are taken
as required. All parts and inquiries about the RO system reference CFO# 430411/909278.
8.1.2.7 Rockport Water Treatment System
The Rockport water system currently includes a filtration system by ATEC, Inc., the
same manufacturer/installer as the Alger and Cedargrove water filtration systems. The
system operates at approximately 40 gpm. An O&M manual is included in Appendix G.
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8.1.2.8 Skagit View Village Water Treatment System
The Skagit View Village includes an aeration treatment system to reduce the corrosivity
of the source water.
8.1.3 Pump Stations
District employees visit booster and well pump stations on a regular basis. Submersible
well pumps are not removed from service for maintenance unless a problem is evident.
Booster pumps are checked for power source and pressure inconsistencies, overheating
and leaks 2 to 3 times per week, and preventive maintenance on motors is performed
annually or as required.
The well systems / booster pumps at Alger, Bow Hill, Potlatch and Tinas Coma are
monitored by the SCADA system, which notifies the District of specific failures at any
time and allows immediate response via a computer connection at any time from almost
any location (see Section 9.1.6). The District monitors these booster and well pump
stations constantly and visits them as required, at least monthly.
The well systems / booster pumps at Gibralter Road, Rockport, Cedargrove and Lake 16
are each equipped with a telephone dialer telemetry alarm system, which notifies the
District of specific failures at any time (see Section 9.1.6). The District visits these
booster and well pump stations and their telemetry at least weekly.
There are portions of the District’s system which meet the definition of a ‘closed system’ per
the DOH Design manual; meaning they rely on a single pump station for their source. In
those closed systems which do not include storage, this means pressures will fall during a
power-loss event.
The District has two standby generators, and transfer switches at most of its critical facilities.
The priority during a widespread power loss would be refilling critical tanks in the Judy
System and remote systems. If the power loss is limited to a closed system, the District
would consider using the generators on booster stations depending on the duration of the
outage, and the ability to avoid interference with electrical repair crews.
8.1.4 Reservoirs
The District currently monitors each of its distribution storage reservoirs at least weekly.
Since the 1994 Water System Plan, the District has developed a more regular schedule of
interior and exterior cleaning for its reservoirs, with a painting schedule. Exterior
cleaning is scheduled when a reservoir’s appearance is undesirable or when it becomes
difficult to monitor exterior finish integrity.
Interior cleaning is more difficult to schedule, but is monitored in each reservoir at least
every five years. For many of the District’s reservoirs, the following reasons make it
impractical and costly to completely drain and remove them from service:
 the stored water would generally be wasted, a financial loss of both the treatment
costs and potential net revenue,
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

drainage of large volumes of chlorinated water to surface sources can cause
adverse environmental impacts, and
the storage is vital to meeting diurnal demands of the specific pressure zone of the
water system.
Recent technology improvements allow interior cleaning and repair of storage reservoirs
while they remain in service. While this method is more expensive, it mitigates other
negative impacts and makes the process more attractive than conventional methods. The
District considers this option when selecting a maintenance method.
The reservoirs at Alger, Bay View Ridge, Bow Hill, Potlatch, Marblemount, Rockport,
Lake 16, Dukes Hill, Gibralter, Fidalgo Heights, Skagit View Village, East
Nookachamps, Thompson Road, Eaglemont and Tinas Coma are each monitored by the
SCADA system. The reservoirs at Cedargrove, East Big Lake, West Big Lake, and
Hoogdal are each monitored by a telephone autodialer telemetry alarm system. (see
Section 8.1.6)
8.1.5 Meters and Utility Billing
The District has over 22,000 consumption meters in its seven water systems, of which
over 21,500 are active. It also has another 29 source and 46 mainline meters. All meters
are read either monthly or bimonthly depending on consumption and billing cycles. All
16,000(+) single family residential meters and the majority of the multifamily and
commercial meters are read bimonthly in six sequential cycles. Source, mainline and
high volume consumption meter readings are made on a monthly basis. All consumption
meters are read by the District’s meter personnel; source and mainline meter readings are
taken by District operations personnel.
Until 1991, District meter personnel recorded consumption from service meters in meter
books. The meter books were then transported to a service contractor who sent out the
utility bills to District customers. In 1991, the District purchased an IBM AS-400 minimainframe computer system, ITRON hand-held meter recorders and accessory equipment
to perform all utility billing functions in-house. With the rapid growth in the District, this
investment has proven its benefits through increased meter reading efficiency and
improved response to customer inquiries.
To further improve the efficiency and speed of meter reading, the District has equipped
all new meters with “touch-read” capability since 1995. This uses a wand attached to the
ITRON hand-held unit to read the meter, eliminating meter box cleanout to read the
meter and decreasing the duration spent at each meter. The District is also retrofitting
existing meters with “touch-read” sensors for uniformity and increased efficiency, and is
reviewing the potential for “radio-read” meters in specific areas.
Utility billing is done on the same cyclic basis as the meters are read. The District
produces and mails all customer water bills using in-house equipment and personnel.
Additional information (“billing inserts”) such as a quarterly newsletter, conservation
information, etc., may also be included in the same envelope with a water bill at various
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times of the year. Customers may currently either pay their bill by mail using the
envelope enclosed with the bill or may pay in person at the District headquarters in
Mount Vernon or at any one of three designated branch offices of Skagit State Bank (one
in Burlington, one in Mount Vernon, and one in Sedro-Woolley). The District also now
accepts payment by electronic funds transfers from a customer's bank, and is considering
internet-based billing, use history and payments as well as credit card payments.
8.1.6 SCADA and Telemetry Systems
The District used telemetry systems starting in the early 1950’s to monitor the Ranney
Well and specific reservoir levels. The telemetry provided feedback to the District on
remote conditions, but the District could only respond if an alarm condition occurred and
was noticed during the work day. These early telemetry systems were removed in the
early 1980’s due to the age of the equipment and budget restrictions. In 1988, the
Rockport water system was the first District system to offer 24-hour telephone-based
telemetry to report alarm conditions in a distribution system. By 1994, the District had
24-hour telemetry alarm systems at Judy Reservoir, Rockport, Cedargrove, Lake 16,
Dukes Hill, Hoogdal, East Big Lake and West Big Lake.
In addition to those telephone telemetry systems, the District has installed a Supervisory
Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which allows control of the monitored
systems from any location that has an authorized District computer connection. The
SCADA system monitors and controls water system operations at Alger (well, WTP and
reservoir), Bay View Ridge (intertie and reservoir), Bow Hill (pumps and reservoir),
Fidalgo Heights (reservoir and pumps), Nookachamps Hills (pumps), Fir/Waugh
(pumps), Lake 16 (pumps and tank), Potlatch (well, RO system, pumps and reservoir)
Skagit View Village, Rockport, Marblemount, and Tinas Coma (pumps and reservoir).
SCADA base stations are located at both the District Headquarters facility and at the Judy
Reservoir WTP, allowing 24-hour coverage. The District has received funding from the
Public Works Trust Fund to expand the SCADA system within the Judy Reservoir water
system. The proposed improvements will reduce District operational costs by reducing
both travel time required to visit and monitor water facilities and wear and tear on
District vehicles, while also reducing response time to problems, tracking operational
trends and generally optimizing the system’s operational capabilities.
8.2 Preventative Maintenance
The District adheres to a system of preventative maintenance on specific elements of the
District’s assets, specifically those that are most difficult to replace or have a high
incidence of failure if left unattended. Maintenance of these elements, most notably
reservoirs, pumps, valves, construction equipment and vehicles, are discussed in the
following paragraphs (Table 8-2 lists a recommended schedule for preventive
maintenance of District assets):
8.2.1 Reservoirs
Reservoirs are all checked on a regular basis to ensure they are intact, working properly
and the water is cycling adequately. The majority of the District’s reservoirs are located
where they can obtain the best hydraulic advantage, in many cases remote from dense
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population. This is an advantage in that catastrophic failure would not normally
physically damage a large area or populace.
8.2.2 Pumps
Pumps at District treatment facilities, groundwater sources, and distribution systems are
checked on a regular basis to ensure their power source is intact, their input and output
pressures are within range, and there are no indications of imminent failure. Pump
motors are maintained annually or as required.
8.2.3 Valves
The District adheres to a cyclic valve maintenance program. The District Superintendent
maintains a log of all gate and butterfly shutoff valves in the distribution systems and
when each was last exercised.
District employees exercise and perform repairs on valves and casings area by area.
Repairs requiring asphalt removal and replacement are coordinated with the
Superintendent. Shutoff valves which are found to have failed in the closed position are
repaired immediately. District employees report faulty valves whenever discovered and
they are repaired as soon as practical. The District’s goal is to maintain the three year
maintenance cycle on all valves in the system.
Automatic control valves are monitored by the District on a regular basis. These valves
are normally associated with mainline meters (pressure reducing valves between pressure
zones) and reservoirs (altitude valves), and are monitored with these other facilities as
scheduled. Control valves are repaired or rebuilt as deemed necessary by the District.
Control valves are listed in Table 4-3 and are principally of the diaphragm-type. New
diaphragm valves are ordered with an interior epoxy coating and stainless steel trim to
minimize maintenance requirements.
8.2.4 Equipment
The District has 95 pieces of equipment, including 4 vehicles for personnel
transportation, 83 pieces of construction-related equipment, and 8 pieces of facility
support equipment. All equipment not under warranty or requiring specialized service is
maintained on a regular schedule by a full-time District mechanic.
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Table 8-2 Maintenance Schedule for District Facilities
DESCRIPTION
Reservoirs
Site security (fence, hatch, ladders)
Tank integrity (roof, vent, walls and
drain outlet for holes & insect /
animal / bird resistance)
Interior inspection
Cursory
Detailed
Interior cleaning
Painting (interior/exterior)
MINIMUM FREQUENCY
Once annually
Based on cursory inspection
As recommended by interior inspection
As required for coating integrity and water quality
Pumps
Test
Amp draw monitoring
Lubricate motor
Check packing; repack as required
Once annually
Once annually (during test)
Once annually (prior to test)
Once annually (after test)
Gate & Butterfly Valves
Locate / Exercise
Once every 3 years
Control Valves
Exercise
Rebuild
Once every 5 years (or when suspect)
When valve won’t open or fully close during exercise
SCADA
Test all functions
Once weekly
Telemetry
Test all functions
Once annually
Cathodic Protection Systems
Measure and log stray current and protection levels
Once annually
Equipment/Vehicles
Rolling stock
Non-wheeled equipment
Per manufacturer’s recommendation
Per manufacturer’s recommendation
Emergency Systems
Test UPS
Test motor generator(s)*
Once annually
Once annually
Once every site visit
Once every site visit
*Maintain per manufacturer’s recommendations in
O&M manual
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8.3 Water Quality Analysis Operations
8.3.1 Background
The District has historically carried out an aggressive water quality monitoring program.
Bacteriological test results have been acceptable for at least the last fifteen years.
Trihalomethane (THM) levels in the Judy Reservoir distribution system have been
reduced substantially since the District’s disinfection procedure was changed from using
free chlorine to monochloramine disinfection techniques in 1990. Results of inorganic
chemical analyses have been well below the maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and,
in many cases, below the laboratories’ detection limits. Regulated volatile organic
chemicals (VOCs) have been below the MCLs in all 7 water systems since the District
testing began in 1988. Radionuclide test results have been acceptable, as well as a
pesticide vulnerability scan (Methods 515, 525 and 531) which has shown no measurable
levels as late as July 2001. Asbestos levels of raw water in Judy Reservoir were
undetectable. Treated water at the most remote site in the Judy Reservoir system has also
tested asbestos-free, except for one single fiber. See Section 4.5 and Appendix M for
more detailed information.
The District has the required number of coliform monitoring locations for each of its systems,
and collects samples as required. The District is transitioning to fixed test-stations, and has
installed 23 thus far in its Judy System (see map, Appendix M).
A coliform monitoring plan has been completed for the Potlatch system and has been
included in Appendix M. For other systems, these plans, tables and maps are partially
complete. The District’s water quality coordinator is working towards completion of these
plans. Plans and maps for all systems are expected to be completed at the end of calendar
year 2008.
8.3.2 Sampling Procedures
The District estimates that more than 24,000 water quality related tests take place on the
Judy Reservoir water supply system annually. Many of these tests are conducted at the
water treatment plant for quality assurance, and a large number of tests are carried out
within the distribution system. Water testing which takes place as a direct result of the
Safe Drinking Water Act comprises a small percentage of the tests which the District
conducts each year.
Inorganic chemical analyses are conducted each year for the Judy Reservoir System. The
last test was conducted in April 2001, and all test results were well within the
requirements of the regulations. Analyses were also conducted in Alger (April 2000),
Cedargrove (April 1999), Mountain View (April 2001), Potlatch (March 2001), and
Rockport (April 1999). An initial inorganic analysis was conducted for the Mountain
View water system by the developer. Since this is a Group B water system, follow-up
sampling is at the discretion of the State, but select organics are tested by the District.
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Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC) were collected for all District water systems
according to DOH requirements. Regulated compounds were all below the MCLs.
Soluble Organic Chemicals (SOC) for the Judy Reservoir system is ongoing. All
regulated compounds have been below the MCLs.
Giardia and Cryptosporidium testing began on a voluntary basis in 1993. No
Cryptosporidium oocysts have been detected in the raw water or the finished water. One
Giardia cyst was detected in the raw water sample in the third sample period. This raw
water cyst could not be identified as a viable cyst by the testing laboratory. The District
will continue testing for these protozoa on a voluntary quarterly basis until the IESRTR
takes full effect. The District has complied with the grandfathered rule which has been
accepted by DOH and EPA.
Asbestos in the Judy Reservoir water system does not appear to be a problem. In
anticipation of the Information Collection Rule (ICR), the District tested for asbestos at
three locations. The ICR requires one sample to be taken at the remote end of the system
with maximum contact with existing asbestos cement piping. The District selected the
Fir Island test site west of Conway as the required site. No asbestos fibers were detected
at this location as well as the treated water leaving the treatment plant. A single asbestos
fiber was detected in the Judy Reservoir (raw water) sample, carried out in April 1994.
The District purchased a spectrophotometer for determining UV 254 readings. The
District has also been tracking total organic carbon levels since 1994. Haloacetic Acid
(HAA) and maximum HAA levels have been documented at the treatment facility and at
the Fir Island remote site. Testing for other disinfection by-products will be scheduled
for the future as testing laboratories become certified to perform these compounds. The
District plans on exceeding the minimum requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA).
Bacteriological sampling is an ongoing program. Records indicate that the distribution
system provides water free from bacteria to all systems.
Chlorine residual levels within the distribution system have been monitored on a weekly
basis at eighteen select sights within the distribution system. Additional monthly samples
are collected. Records indicate that a measurable chlorine residual is easily maintained
throughout the majority of the distribution system throughout the year. The District has
been granted a waiver by DOH to verify daily chlorine levels at the time bacteriological
samples are drawn, even though weekends and other days go without chlorine testing. In
addition to this routine monitoring system, temperature and pH levels are also monitored
from throughout the distribution system each month. The District’s water quality
technician utilizes a laboratory-quality pH monitor in her service vehicle to assure
accurate and useful readings. Routine calibration of the pH monitor takes place at the
water treatment plant.
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The Rockport and Cedargrove water systems both produced satisfactory test results
during all rounds of testing
Aside from bacteriological testing and lead/copper testing, very few additional tests are
conducted for the Fidalgo Island water system. The City of Anacortes provides the
District with source water for this water system. City test results are provided to the
District from the Anacortes Water Treatment Plant on a regular basis. The first round of
lead/copper testing was completed in November, 1994, and results were below the action
levels for lead and copper. Test results indicate that the corrosiveness of the City of
Anacortes water is not an issue. The District will be investigating the likelihood of
combined testing with the City, who has been permitted to reduce the number of lead and
copper tests due to the excellent test results from their first and second round of testing.
8.3.3 Operator Certification
The Table below indicates the required certification levels, and those certified operators
and managers who are operating these systems.
System
Judy
WS ID#
79500E
Contact
Peterka
Distn
Requirement
WDM 4
Distn
Operator
Spangler
Cert
Level
WDM4
Fidalgo
Cedar Grove
Rockport
Mountain View
Alger
Potlatch 1
Skagit View Village
Marblemount
00932Y
119174
736006
03744Y
01400K
69034L
968795
AA6423
Peterka
Peterka
Peterka
Peterka
Peterka
Peterka
Peterka
Peterka
WDM 2
WDM 1
WDS
N/A
WDS
WDM 1
WDS
WDS
Fox
Bos
Bos
Fox
Fox
Fox
Bos
Bos
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WDM2
WTP
Operator ID# Requirement
10183
WTPO 4
WTPO 3
WTPO 3
8234
N/A
8444
N/A
8444
N/A
8234
N/A
8234
N/A
8234
WTPO 2
8444
N/A
8444
N/A
WTP
Operator
Hamilton
Esser, Jr
Weaver
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
Hamilton
NR
NR
Cert
Level
WTPO4
WTPO4
WTPO4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
WTPO4
NA
NA
WTP
Operator ID# Position
2794
primary
4988
shift
949
shift
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
2794
NA
NA
8.3.4 Cross-Connection Control Program
The District closely monitors its CCCP. The program is built within the structure and all
elements of the WAC 246-290-490 and enhanced with the guidance of CCC Manual –
PNWS- AWWA “Yellow Manual.” The District also has upgraded the program by requiring
RPBA at most commercial and industrial installations of domestic water service. The
District’s top priority is Severe Health Facilities, and also all Table 9 Facilities. Thus far the
District has completed all medical centers and wastewater plants, and continues to work on
all other Table 9 facilities.
Several engineering technicians and water construction inspector’s possess their CCS
certification. This aids the Districts CCC Coordinator to effectively administer the program.
The District electronically tracks and sends notices and reminders to test all backflow devices
at least annually and hard copies of tests are kept for five years. Inspections occur on a
regular basis of severe health facilities, high health, fire systems and irrigation. BAT
Contractors are closely monitored to update their certifications and gauge calibration report.
The ASR is sent to DOH each year.
Over the past two years the District has experienced a high level of mobility in the position of
Cross Connection Control Coordinator (CCCC). Within the past month the District has
recently acquired a new CCCC who has identified additional ways of augmenting the current
Cross Connection Control program.
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The backflow prevention software (Tokay) used by the District is a high quality program. It
has numerous features that allow data to be stored, tracked and retrieved for proper
application of Cross Connection Control program. However, several problem areas have been
identified within the program (most likely due to the transient sate of the personnel in the
CCCC). The District’s goal is to clean up the existing data and insure consistent and proper
data input from this point forward.
It is the intention of the District to collaborate with City and County planning, building and
permitting departments in order to insert the District’s new water service requirements and
procedures at the beginning of the permitting process. It is believed that early involvement in
the permit process will allow the CCCC to properly evaluate any real or possible cross
connections.
It is the intention of the CCCC to employ, in the next six years, at least one full time
inspector dedicated to survey new and existing services for real or possible cross connections
and properly functioning backflow prevention. This additionally assists in the goal of
identifying 100% of Table 9 hazards.
8.4 Emergency Response
The following is a brief overview of the District’s procedures in response to various
emergencies. This overview is not intended to be used as guidance during an actual
emergency. A more detailed description of points of contact, duties and procedures can
be found in the District’s Emergency Response Plan, under separate cover. In general,
any form of emergency will involve the General Manager directing staff, with contacts to
be made to 911 and state and local health departments. Other contacts will be made as
appropriate to the type of emergency.
8.4.1 General
Every emergency situation provides some potential for hazard to District employees. All
District employees are cautioned to remain alert to potential hazards, especially in
emergency situations. District employees are trained in emergency first aid and CPR;
safety is stressed as the District’s NUMBER ONE priority at monthly all-hands safety
meetings. Staff and operations personnel participate in scheduled “system exercises” at
least annually, maintaining familiarity with system control and training new personnel.
8.4.2 Command, Control and Communication
8.4.2.1 Command
During an emergency, the direct operational control of each District work unit shall
remain the same as during normal working conditions, unless directed otherwise. In the
absence of a supervisor and direct orders to the contrary, the ranking employee will take
charge.
Overall management of the District will be in the following order of succession:
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Title
General Manager
Assistant General Manager
Engineering Manager
Construction / Maintenance /
Operations Manager
WTP Superintendent
Name
Dave Johnson
Mark Fredlund
Greg Peterka
Brad Spangler
Greg Hamilton
8.4.2.2 Control
Optimally, the District will establish 2 separate Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs).
The primary EOC will be located at the District main facility in Mount Vernon, assuming
the facility is fully functional. The alternate EOC will be located at the Judy Reservoir
WTP, east of Clear Lake. Each EOC will be equipped with radio and telephone
communication assets to allow direction of the District’s work units during the
emergency.
EOC Composition
The primary and alternate EOCs will be placed on ALERT status under the following
conditions:
 Declaration of a pre-emergency flood condition
 Receipt of a flood watch announcement from the National Weather Service
 As directed by the General Manager
In an ALERT status, all EOC and field equipment will be prepared for an emergency but
personnel will not be on duty in the EOC.
The primary and alternate EOCs will be placed on ACTIVE status under the following
conditions:
 Declaration of a flood emergency
 Receipt of a flood warning announcement from the National Weather Service
 Occurrence of a severe earthquake
 As directed by the General Manager
In an ACTIVE status, two or more persons will be on duty in the primary EOC and one
person in the alternate EOC, and Support Groups will be on duty as required.
The General Manager or his/her designee will establish a work schedule for the EOCs,
and may place certain staff members on standby and/or send certain staff members home
during the normal working day for after-hours return and staffing of the EOCs. Staff will
be reimbursed for all such and similar duties performed during emergency operations.
Reimbursement for work performed during emergency operations will be per adopted
District procedures as authorized by the General Manager.
Support Group Composition
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Support Groups will operate primarily in the field. Support Groups will include, but are
not limited to, an Earthquake Inspection Team, a Field Patrol Team, and District Water
Controllers.
General EOC Activities
The EOC in control shall monitor the status of all District facilities and the available
facilities of other agencies including, but not limited to, rain, streamflow, reservoir level,
wind, and evaporation gauges, meters, piezometers, seismographs and radar, as required.
Monitoring shall be sufficient to provide basis for decisions during emergency operations
and to ensure accurate data is obtained during the emergency. Monitoring should include
the use of telemetry equipment that enables the user to receive data over the telephone
and/or through the computer at either EOC.
Sufficient and concise records shall be kept to provide continuity between staff members
assigned on a rotational basis to each EOC. Records should be kept readily available and
displayed when appropriate so members of the duty EOC personnel have access to the
most current information.
8.4.2.3 Communication
District Operations
District personnel shall conduct District operations on the District normal operating radio
network (48.060 MHz) and through the use of cellular telephones. Normal telephone
operations may be limited or interrupted during emergency operations and should not be
relied upon as a definite communication asset.
Public Information
The District’s Special Projects Coordinator is the Public Information Officer (PIO), and
shall be the principal point of contact for all media releases. The District must release
reliable and timely information. City and County emergency service offices must also be
kept abreast of the emergency information disseminated under this Plan. The following
news media is available in the District’s service areas for emergency information:
Newspapers
Anacortes American
Courier Times
Skagit Argus
Skagit Valley Herald
Television
KCPQ Seattle (Ch 13)
KING Seattle (Ch 5)
KIRO Seattle (Ch 7)
KOMO Seattle (Ch 4)
KSTW Tacoma/Seattle (Ch 11)
KVOS Bellingham (Ch 12)
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Radio Stations
KAPS Mount Vernon (AM 660)
KBRC Mount Vernon (AM 1430)
KISM Bellingham (FM 92.9)
KLKI Anacortes (AM 1340)
KSVR Mount Vernon (FM 90.1)
8.4.3 Emergency Preparation and Response
The District’s water service and facilities may be disrupted at any time by natural and
man-made disasters. Floods, droughts, earthquakes, electrical storms, power outages,
volcanic or nuclear activity, material fatigue, human error and sabotage can each
constitute or contribute to an emergency situation. The following specific conditions can
result from one or a combination of these factors.
8.4.3.1 Water Supply Shortage
(Please see section 3.6.1 for a discussion of measures to be used based off instream flow
levels).
Preparation: Public education is the key to survival in a water shortage scenario.
School and media programs will stress the importance of conservation (water use
efficiency) as an everyday activity and interact with audiences to present various water
use reductions possible for the various levels of water shortage response. The District
will also prepare leaflets that can be distributed to customers at the time an emergency
arises. The District has also established a good working relationship with the City of
Anacortes and has standard procedures for activating their interties.
Response: Response to a water shortage will be based on the level of emergency. The
goal is to optimize the use of a limited supply of potable water while maintaining public
health and safety. Enforcement will be coordinated between the District and local City
and County governments. Interties with the City of Anacortes water system will be
activated to the maximum extent possible, given the regional extent of the shortage.
a.
Normal water supply status will allow the District’s customers to enjoy their
everyday level of service and water rates.
b.
First Level Water Use Reduction: Domestic and public customers will be
requested to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 10 percent for that
time of year. Commercial and irrigation customers will be required to reduce
their consumption in accordance with their respective contracts, but by not
less than 25 percent of their average consumption for that time of year. Water
rates will remain unchanged.
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c.
Second Level Water Use Reduction: Domestic and public customers will be
required to eliminate discretionary water use (lawn watering, outdoor waterrelated cleaning activities, etc.) to reduce their water consumption by at least
15 percent for that time of year. Commercial and irrigation customers will be
required to reduce their consumption in accordance with their respective
contracts, but by not less than 50 percent of their average consumption for that
time of year. Water rates will be uniform for all customers at the standard
first block rate.
d.
Emergency Level Water Use: Domestic and public customers will be required
to eliminate all unnecessary water use. Commercial and irrigation customers
will be required to reduce their consumption in accordance with their
respective contracts. Water rates may be increased to a summer surcharge
rate (up to 50 percent above the standard first block rate).
8.4.3.2 Transmission or Distribution Main Break
Preparation: The majority of the District’s transmission lines are of concrete cylinder
pipe; the remainder are of ductile iron. The District’s distribution lines range from
3⁄4-inch through 16-inch nominal diameter pipelines; materials include various plastics,
AC, steel and iron. The District keeps parts on hand for repairing leaks and catastrophic
failure of 16, 18, 20, 24 and 30-inch concrete cylinder pipe, plus repair bands for 16, 18
and 24-inch ductile iron transmission lines and the full span of distribution lines.
Response: At the direction of the Operations Superintendent or his/her designee:
1.
Identify the section(s) of leaking or failed pipeline;
2.
Mobilize a repair crew to respond to the scene with materials for the most
probable repair;
3.
Isolate the leak/failure (shut down slowly to minimize surge pressure/water
hammer);
4.
Set up necessary barriers to prevent erosion, siltation and added water flow
from damaging or harassing any fish / wildlife habitat or private property;
5.
Notify any critical customers that will be affected by the shutdown (hospitals,
kidney dialysis patients, major commercial customers, etc.);
6.
Excavate as necessary and repair the leak/failure. Transmission and major
distribution line failures may require temporary repairs and subsequent
shutdowns for permanent repairs. Identify the cause of the leak/failure;
permanent repair shall be made to mitigate future leak/failure recurrence;
7.
Upon completion of the repair, flush the system to a non-environmentally
sensitive area, neutralizing any chlorinous compounds to prevent damage or
harassment of fish / wildlife;
8.
Clean up in a manner that continues to protect the area / environment from
latent effects of the construction.
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8.4.3.3 Pump Station Failure
Preparation: District Engineering and Operations staff will review all pump stations
and ensure each station is fitted with either a power supply transfer switch or plumbing
fittings to allow either an emergency generator or an external mobile booster pump to
support the failed pump station.
Response: Pump station failure may be deduced by any number of methods, including
customer pressure complaints, routine visits to storage facilities or pump stations, or
telemetry alarms. District Operations personnel will evaluate the cause of failure (lack of
power, pump failure, etc.) and respond accordingly to ensure upstream pressures are
maintained. The solution may be as simple as resetting controls, may involve the use of
temporary emergency power, or may require replacement of portions of or the complete
booster pump itself.
8.4.3.4 Water Treatment Plant Chemical Overdose
Preparation: The WTP Superintendent and Operators are responsible for routine checks
and controls of the Judy Reservoir WTP; District Operations personnel are responsible
for the routine operation of treatment systems for all District satellite water systems.
These personnel are responsible for checking, maintaining and repairing the respective
chemical metering and control systems.
Response: The WTP and Operations Superintendents control the response to any
chemical overdoses at the Judy Reservoir WTP and satellite water systems, respectively.
Response procedures to specific overdose incidents will depend on the nature and
quantity of the overdose, and may include neutralization, dilution, system flushing, or any
combination thereof. Public health and safety, followed closely by environmental
impacts, shall be the primary consideration.
8.4.3.5 Hazardous Material Spill
Preparation: The District has identified all hazardous materials it has in stock at the
District’s main facility in Mount Vernon and at the Judy Reservoir WTP, and it maintains
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) on site for the substances at each location. WTP
and Operations personnel are aware of the nature of all such substances. The only
reportable quantities of hazardous materials are kept at the WTP. WTP Operations
personnel are trained in the response to spills of the hazardous materials maintained on
site. The District is in full compliance with SARA3 requirements.
Hazardous materials off-site are addressed in the Cultus Mountain Watershed Control
Program and the Well Head Protection Plans for the various groundwater wells. Offiste
spills are normally reported to local fire authorities, who respond to the spill and in turn
notify the respective Emergency Management authority. All water sources are located
outside UGAs and are therefore rural, so would be in the area addressed by Skagit
County Emergency Management. The District has a good history of working with Skagit
8-150
County EM on various issues, and they notify the District of known spills in a timely
manner.
Response: The WTP Superintendent controls the response to any District hazardous
material spills at the Judy Reservoir WTP and the Construction Superintendent controls
the response to any District hazardous material spills elsewhere in the District’s service
area. Response procedures to specific overdose incidents will depend on the nature and
quantity of the overdose, and may include recovery, neutralization, dilution, or any
combination thereof. The local fire department or fire district will be notified of spills of
reportable quantities of hazardous materials. Public health and safety, followed closely
by environmental impacts, shall be the primary consideration. If a spill jeopardizes a
water source, the source may be shut down for the limited period that the spill could
impair water quality. During such limited periods of shutdown, the District’s water
systems can generally get by on standby storage, as all systems (except Mountain View, a
Group B) have adequate standby storage for 4 average days of water use. The Mountain
View well is deep within a well-confined aquifer and the potential of its groundwater
being contaminated from a surface spill is extremely remote.
8.4.3.6 Computer System Failure
Preparation: The District has identified various scenarios for PC and mini-mainframe
failures, as well as identified personnel responsibilities for mitigating further damage and
replacing systems, in its Information Systems Department Disaster Recovery Plan. Backup disks and tapes are made regularly on each District computer system as scheduled and
stored off-site from each system to minimize the potential for data loss.
Response: Execute the plans identified in the District’s Information Systems
Department Disaster Recovery Plan, under separate cover.
8.4.3.7 Flood at District Headquarters Building, Mount Vernon
Preparation: When FLOOD WATCH is announced, the District will brief all its
personnel on flood response procedures and ensure all wheeled equipment is roadworthy.
Determine which employees live within the projected flood zones and which will be
available for emergency duty.
When FLOOD WARNING is announced, the floodwaters may be from 4-1/2 hours away
(for a complete failure of Baker Dam) to 12 hours away (for flooding heading to the
Skagit Valley from Concrete). The District will:
 execute floodproofing of the District’s Headquarters Facility (window batter
boards, elevate computer and other moisture-sensitive equipment, elevate original
legal copies of financial, business and personnel documents, etc.) and move
wheeled equipment to higher ground.
 consider dividing the District’s employees equipment and personnel into two
teams, one for each side of the Skagit River (to avoid traffic congestion and/or
load restrictions at bridges).
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


require labor employees who have not had a tetanus shot in the last 3 years to get
one.
check Judy Reservoir drainage status and monitor all Cultus Mountain stream
culverts (Gilligan, Salmon, Janicki, Turner and Mundt Creeks) for soundness.
Provide proper tools for trash rack cleaning.
check the Skagit River Diversion for damage.
Response: If the District Headquarters Building floods, many other areas in Skagit
County will likely also be flooded. District employees will be responsible for
maintaining water service to its customers and ensuring system integrity. The EOC in
control will transfer to the alternate EOC at the Judy Reservoir WTP.
8.4.3.8 Bomb Threat
Preparation: The primary consideration in bomb threat situations shall be to protect
District employees and visitors against injury. Protection of physical property will be
considered only after the affected facility is evacuated. Bomb threats may arise through
discovery of suspected bombs or telephone/written threats received by receptionists or
other staff. In any event, the receptionist is the person to notify law enforcement
agencies and signal the emergency to key staff.
Response: The person receiving a telephone bomb threat will remain calm and make
note of the caller’s voice (age, gender, accent), exact wording used, exact time of call and
any background noises. The receiver will also try to find out from the caller the location,
appearance, type and reason for the bomb and when it is set to explode. The receiver will
then immediately notify the receptionist and his/her own supervisor of the situation.
Written threats shall be handled similarly. If the suspected bomb is located, DO NOT
TOUCH IT. For a bomb threat at the District headquarters facility, evacuate all
personnel a minimum of 300 feet from the facility to a designated area and wait for the
arrival of law enforcement officers. For a bomb threat at any of the District’s field
facilities (reservoirs, pipelines, booster stations, meter vaults, etc.), a District employee
familiar with the area will accompany law enforcement officials to the site and serve as a
source of information; the District employee shall not participate in the search for,
removal of or disarming of any bomb. Written bomb threats shall be treated as real and
responded to using the same process as telephone threats.
8.4.3.9 Water Source Contamination
Preparation: Water source contamination shall be considered an emergency if it is
considered by the District Water Controllers to be an immediate risk to public health and
safety. Contamination may occur naturally, or may be introduced by commercial,
agricultural or other domestic interests or by saboteurs. Contamination may be
discovered by District testing, customer complaints, anonymous tips, or admission of a
saboteur.
8-152
Response: The District Water Controllers control the response to any contamination of
surface water leading to Judy Reservoir and groundwater elsewhere in the District’s
service areas. The contamination could be either short-term or long-term. Response
procedures to specific incidents will depend on the nature and quantity of the
contamination, and may include chemical treatment, filtration, or any combination
thereof; District customers may be asked to stop consumption of District water if directed
by the District Water Controllers. Public health and safety, followed closely by
environmental impacts, shall be the primary consideration. Any specific surface source
found to be the source of contamination should be bypassed and not diverted to Judy
Reservoir.
8.5 System Vulnerability
The District operates and maintains its water systems in a totally reliable and professional
manner. The systems are no longer considered to be vulnerable due to any operations or
maintenance activities or inactivities due to the preventive maintenance implemented as a
result of this Plan (see also Section 4.6, Summary of Deficiencies). Physical system
vulnerabilities that have been identified are due to changes in codes and installation
practices since specific facilities and infrastructure were installed. However, mechanical
and electrical equipment, no matter how well maintained, are still subject to failure;
operator diligence is paramount to the success and safety of operations.
8-153
9 Financial Program
9.1 General
The District operates several public water systems and has historically maintained a
uniform schedule of rates for all of them, not differentiating based on geographic
location. The District periodically reviews and adopts rates necessary to meet the
systems’ overall revenue requirements. These requirements include the general
administration of the systems, operation and maintenance costs, and new/replacement
water plant and facilities necessary to operate the systems, maintain them in good
condition, and meet present and projected customer water demands.
HDR prepared a water rate study for the District in 2005, coordinated with the
projections of the 2001 Comprehensive Water System Plan. The District adopted a new
rate methodology and structure based on the study. The District confirmed the ratesetting process and escalated its rates based on a six-year schedule, tied to the Capital
Improvement Program. This section briefly summarizes the analyses, findings and
recommendations of the study and recent confirmations, and provides projections for
water rates through 2020 based on the projected customer demands from Section 3, Basic
Planning Data.
This Section of this Plan is intended to provide a basis for future financial planning for
the District. Any water rate adjustments must consider actual financial conditions and
requirements in greater detail than will be presented here.
9.2 Existing Revenue
9.2.1 Revenue from Water Rates
Prior to the 1992 rate structure revision, the District’s rates were based on a declining
block scale. The District calculated that single and/or elderly customers on a fixed
income use approximately 300 cubic feet (cf) of water per month; these previous rate
structures had therefore offered the first 300 cf of water “free” every month to residential
customers for the minimum charge (based on meter size). This first 300 cf was
considered by the District to be “survival water”. Water over 2,000 cf was available at a
lower unit cost as it was relatively inexpensive to produce. The 1992 EES water rate
study found, however, that these earlier rate structures were not the most equitable
method of recovering costs. EES recommended that a “cost of service analysis” be used
to equitably distribute the District’s costs to the various customer classes. The District
agreed. The EES rate structure proposed separated the meter charge from the water
consumption charge and flattened the declining block structure severely. It still, however,
offered a reduced rate for “survival water” for single family residential services.
9-154
WATER RATES
1986 Rate
1992 Rate
Nov 99 Rate
Monthly Charge Min. ccf
No Min. ccf Incl No Min. ccf Incl
Incl.
Meter Size:
5/8 or 3/4
3
$8.15/mo
$8.00/mo
$11.97
1
11
16.85
13.35
20.60
1-1/2
21
28.40
26.65
39.80
2
35
40.85
42.65
63.63
3
81
79.85
80.00
119.33
4
168
133.00
133.35
198.82
6
410
266.05
266.65
397.53
8
797
479.00
426.65
635.93
Consumption
Charge
0-300 cf
301-2,000 cf
2,001-10,000 cf
10,001 cf or more
$0.00/ccf
1.15
0.85
0.55
$1.35/ccf
1.35
1.35
0.8
$2.08/ccf
2.08
2.02
1.21
2007 Rate
No Min. ccf
Incl
$15.45
25.80
51.40
82.15
154.00
256.50
512.95
820.60
$2.65/ccf
2.65
1.57
1.57
Table 9-1
The operating results of the District for the four years preceding this Plan are as follows:
INCOME STATEMENT
Operating Revenues
Operating Expenses
-
2003
$10,514,794
8,413,119
2004
2005
2006
10,920,790 11,020,962 12,030,201
9,065,629 9,351,717 9,945,641
+
$2,101,675
485,543
$1,855,161 $1,669,245
449,913
1,141,158
2,084,560
1,669,044
-
$2,587,218
711,849
$2,305,074 $2,810,403
589,903
515,565
3,753,604
535,010
$1,875,369
$1,715,171 $2,294,838
3,218,594
(Including Deprec. & Taxes)
Net Operating Revenue
Other Income/(Deductions)
Balance for Debt Service
Debt Service Interest
Subtotal
Extraordinary Deductions
Net Income
-
0
$1,875,369
Table 9-2
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0
0
$1,715,171 $2,294,838
0
3,218,594
9.2.2 Revenue from General Facilities Charges
In addition to revenue from water rates, the District also receives revenue from new
customers through general facilities charges, also referred to by the District as System
Development Fees (SDF’s). The District overhauled it SDF structure in 1999 with its
revenue structure, now charging meters 2-inch and larger, and any meter on a contract,
based on its actual annual use. Meters that show a higher annual use than the customer
paid for may be charged an added fee for their added annual use. Table 9-3 below lists
the current incremental SDFs for various meter sizes. The SDF revenue is available only
for capital improvements to source of supply, transmission, distribution, and storage plant
which benefits large areas of the District and only with the authorization of the District’s
Commission.
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT FEES FOR 2007
Meter Size
Incremental SDF
*
5/8
$2,350
3/4
3,525
1
5,875
1-1/2
11,750
2
18800*
3
37600*
4
58750*
6
117500*
8
188000*
Satellite Systems
General Plant
portion of SDF
* Per increment
Table 9-3
9.3 Cost of Improvements
As outlined in Section 5, Improvement Program, the District maintains a goal of
replacing 2 percent of its pipeline infrastructure per year. This allows a 50-year life span
for all pipeline infrastructure. Other water plant and facilities, such as pump and pressure
reducing stations and storage reservoirs, are scheduled for upgrades and replacement
based on their ability to function safely and meet their local capacity requirements. This
2 percent replacement goal and other required improvements are balanced against the
capital work budget to produce a list of capital improvements for each year.
9.4 Annual Operation and Maintenance Expenses
The District’s annual operations and maintenance expenses are distributed as identified in
Table 9-4 below, based on the District’s 2006 budget.
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ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
Supply
Treatment & Pumping
Transmission & Distribution
Commercial
General, Administrative and Engineering
Depreciation
Table 9-4
7.00%
13.20%
13.90%
7.90%
26.10%
31.90%
9.5 Projected Revenue Requirements
The District works to maintain a balance of at least 2.4 million dollars balance in the
revenue fund at the end of each year. System revenue using existing rates (shown in
Table 9-5 below) was projected for the six year planning period required for this Plan,
through the year 2012, based on the low population forecast, as explained in Section 3.
SCHEDULED WATER RATES
SCHEDULED WATER RATES
County Population
113,100
District Population
65,000
66,300
67,626
68,979
70,358
71,765
73,201
District Services
22,400
22,848
23,305
23,771
24,246
24,731
25,226
Basic Charge:
5/8” (unit meter)
$14.65
$15.45
$16.40
$16.97
$17.57
$18.18
$18.82
$1.77
2.49
2.48
1.49
$1.79
2.65
2.65
1.57
$1.81
2.84
2.84
1.66
$1.87
2.94
2.94
1.72
$1.94
3.04
3.04
1.78
$2.01
3.15
3.15
1.84
$2.08
3.26
3.26
1.90
Consumption Charge:
0-300 cf (res. only)
0-300 cf
301-10,000 cf
10,001 cf or more
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
115,362 117,669 120,023 122,423 124,872 127,369
Table 9-5
This was compared to projected expenses based on current debt and proportional
increases in operating costs. The results, shown in Table 9-6, indicate the District will
have sufficient revenues from the existing rate structure to maintain its 2.4 million dollar
balance of working capital for administration, operations, maintenance, and
improvements as indicated in Section 5.
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PROJECTED REVENUE AND EXPENSES
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Operating Revenues
Residential
$8,588
8,583
9,237
9,692 10,169 10,670
Commercial
2,270
2,273
2,529
2,656
2,788
2,927
Industrial
0
0
0
0
0
0
Farms
353
360
379
392
406
420
Municipal
345
342
372
388
407
427
Resale
66
65
70
72
75
78
Irrigation
348
320
365
383
397
411
Fire Services +
60
57
65
67
69
72
OVERALL
$12,030 $12,000 $13,017 $13,650 $14,311 $15,005
BASED ON 2000-2006 RATE STRUCTURE
2012
11,196
3,073
0
435
449
80
425
74
15,732
Operating Expenses (Incl.
Depreciation)
Taxes
Net Operating
Revenue
$9,324
10,303
10,285
10,661
11,050
11,455
11,872
622
$2,084
595
$1,102
646
$2,086
668
$2,321
692
$2,569
715
$2,835
741
3,119
Other Income
Balance for Debt
Service
+
$1,925
$4,009
1016
2,118
915
3,001
920
3,241
920
3,489
920
3,755
920
4,039
Other Deductions
Net Income
-
791
$3,218
545
1,573
758
2,243
760
2,481
760
2,729
760
2,995
760
3,279
Revenue Balance
Brought Forward
Depreciation
Cust. Contributions +
Debt Service
Transfers
Capital Outlays
Balance at End of
Year
$4,742
8,331
6,774
6,895
7,321
7,533
8,008
2,972
1,819
2,312
3,025
1,615
2,410
3,100
1,865
2,807
3,224
1,921
3,801
3,353
1,979
4,418
3,487
2,037
4,500
3,627
2,161
4,604
2,108
$8,331
5,360
$6,774
4,280
$6,895
3,399
$7,321
3,431
$7,533
3,544
$8,008
3,657
8,814
3.46
2.58
2.57
2.01
1.82
1.89
1.97
Debt Service
Coverage
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9.6 Water Rate Adjustments
Assuming the expense requirements as indicated in Table 9-6 are accurate, water rate
adjustments should continue based on 1-1/2 percent growth and 3 percent cost escalation,
to include year 2006. The District has the expertise in-house to evaluate expenses versus
revenues and recommend rate adjustments, or they may opt to hire a qualified consultant.
9.7 Revenue Plan
The administration, operations and capital improvements of the District are funded by
water revenues from the District’s customers, augmented by SDF’s paid for system
expansion and occasional grants from outside agencies. Based on service growth
projections from Table 9-5, the District projects the total annual revenues for the financial
planning period through 20012 as indicated in Table 9-7.
Projected Revenues ($000's)
2006
2007
5.50%
5.50%
Water Rate
Increases
$12,030 12,000
Water Rate
Revenues:
2008
6.00%
2009
3.50%
2010
3.50%
2011
3.50%
2012
3.00%
13,017
13,650
14,311
15,005
15,732
Net Income:
$3,218
1573
2,243
2,481
2,729
2,995
3,279
End-of-Year
Revenue
Balance:
$8,331
6,774
6,895
7,321
7,533
8,008
8,874
Debt Service
Coverage:
3.46
2.58
2.57
2.01
1.82
1.89
1.97
$1,819
1615
1865
1921
1979
2037
2161
SDF
Contributions
Table 9-7
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10 Satellite System Program
10.1 Authority
Public Utility District No. 1 of Skagit County (District) functions as the primary Satellite
Management Agency (SMA) for Skagit County per the CWSP. The District provides
satellite service inside Skagit County (and outside the County in limited cases) to all
areas not already designated as the service area of another State-approved water utility.
The District’s goal as SMA is to maximize water availability and maintain satisfactory
water quality, as well as to assist other public water systems (water systems serving 2 or
more service connections) with technical and administrative tasks. The District runs a
Satellite System Program, operating both large and small District-owned systems,
assisting troubled and failing water systems, and providing other water systems by
contract with various services. By operating more than one water system, economies of
scale make it possible for the District to employ qualified personnel, provide good system
management and operation, and meet the stringent standards required by the Safe
Drinking Water Act.
The regulations and liability associated with providing adequate water service are
becoming too complex, restrictive and expensive for many communities, homeowner
associations and individually-owned utilities. Small public water systems are often
unwilling or unable to develop and sustain the operating revenues that will finance
needed capital improvements and operational/maintenance activities in a manner that is
affordable to their customers, nor the Operating and Capital Cash Reserves required by
the State to meet the test of financial viability. It is not the District’s intent to take over
all small public water systems in Skagit County, but rather to support them in cooperation
with the Skagit County Health Department (SCH). The District appreciates the pride
many system owners display and believes they should continue service so long as their
product meets drinking water quality standards and their physical water system meets
DOH/SCH requirements.
This Satellite System Program is fashioned to allow some flexibility of service to water
systems based on their viability. In addition, the District’s eligibility for State and federal
funding assistance and its ability to issue bonds helps to assure reliable and high quality
service at minimum cost for District-owned systems.
10.2 Satellite System Program Services
The following outline of the District’s Satellite System Program provides current and
potential customers with the philosophy, objectives and procedures associated with
available services. A model contract for satellite management services is included in
Appendix P.
The Satellite System Program provides four primary options of services for water
systems:
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a.
Ownership Service: Ownership and operation of the remote water
system by the District.
b.
Management and Operation Service: Management and operation of the
remote public water system by the District for the system owner, or
c.
Contract Service: Delegation by the District of the system
management and operation to the system owner or a third party; this
option still requires the SMA to ensure that all functions of the system
comply with applicable regulations.
d.
Support Assistance: Support to existing viable systems for technical,
professional or special services by the District.
Many water systems may be operating well and producing good quality water, but need
help with monitoring or the cost of supplies; Support Assistance may be the best for
them. Other water systems may not want to stay in operation or, because of inability to
meet water quality requirements, may be forced by the courts to turn their system over to
someone else; Ownership Service may be their best option. New systems may be served
by Ownership, Management and Operation, or Contract Service by the District.
These options are designed to respond to the needs of differing water systems and to
support a program of reliable water system operation throughout the County. Decisions
on establishing a level of service will depend on CWSP Guidelines, direction from the
County or State Health Departments, individual system needs, plans for improvement and
growth pressures, as well as the ability of the District to provide the desired services in a
cost-effective manner. Each situation will be carefully examined by the District with the
Applicant interested in Satellite System service or support.
Existing systems that do not meet water quality standards would benefit the most from
Ownership Service. The District may be required to assume specific regulatory liabilities
for systems that transfer ownership; the interests of all District customers will be
considered before any such transfer. The District will provide Ownership Service only
for those systems that comply with its minimum water quality, construction and
reliability standards. Systems initially failing to meet these standards must either be
brought up to standards or pay the cash equivalent of such an upgrade prior to transfer of
ownership, in accordance with this Satellite System Program policy. Different
construction and reliability standards will be assigned to Group A and Group B systems
as appropriate.
Systems requesting assistance must provide unrestricted access of system facilities to
District staff. All system facilities must be on system-owned property or located on legal
rights-of-way or easements.
Figure 10.1 indicates the procedures which the District uses in evaluating requests for
either remote service (either Ownership, Management & Operation or Contract Service)
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or Support Assistance. There are some common steps in each process regardless of
which option is requested.
-
Initial contact between the Applicant and the District: the Applicant
can discuss needs of the water system and receive a copy of District
policies and procedures pertaining to Applicant’s requests. The
Applicant may contact the District on its own or by SCH or DOH
referral.
-
Applicant’s written request: this initiates the District’s formal
evaluation of the system’s needs, capabilities and deficiencies. The
Applicant’s request should include specific data and background
information on the system using the Small System Survey forms in
Exhibit H of this Plan.
-
District procedures: The District will inform the Applicant of the
procedures required for service or support, as indicated below.
The District’s Point of Contact for initiating SMA service is the Engineering Department,
located at the District’s Mount Vernon office at 1415 Freeway Drive.
10-162
Figure 10.1
10-163
10.2.1
Ownership Service
10.2.1.1
Policy
e.
Applicants adjacent to or within another established public water
system’s designated service area will be referred to that water system
for Ownership service before the District will accept a request for
Ownership service from the applicant (see Figure 10.1). If the
adjacent water system denies the applicant service, the applicant may
apply for Ownership service from the District.
f.
Ownership Service can be provided for both Group A and Group B
public water systems. The District will own and operate all new
satellite Group A public water systems proposed within its satellite
service area. The District will not typically own Group B public water
systems. Instead:
(1)
the District will typically waive SMA service to all two (2)
connection Group B public water systems;
(2)
the District will review potential for SMA management and
operation (M&O) service to new Group B public water
systems with more than two (2) connections. In general, the
District will not provide M&O service to Group B water
systems; and
(3)
unique exceptions will be considered on the recommendation
of a governmental agency or the system owner.
g.
The District considers a new system to be feasible based on the
balance of its projected revenues to active service count, projected rate
of growth to buildout, and operational requirements. An economic
viability assessment will be performed on each system to be
considered for ownership service. Ownership systems which are likely
to be considered financially feasible include, but are not limited to:
those inside or within 1/2-mile of a UGA or rural village served by the
District; or
those where a District water main is anticipated to be within 1⁄2-mile
of the system within 20 years of the date the system begins operation.
In all cases, land use regulations shall govern the creation of new
developments and determine the density therein.
-
h.
Ownership Service requires transfer of ownership and operational
responsibilities from either a new or existing water system to the
District. The District shall assume complete responsibility for the
water system following transfer.
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10.2.1.2
a.
i.
The Applicant is subject to all District written policies and
Resolutions, including but not limited to rates and fees, design and
construction standards and line extension policies.
j.
The Applicant is responsible for all costs of upgrade and transfer of
system ownership to the District. The District will assist the Applicant
in obtaining funding. The District will not make cash payments to
acquire an existing or new system. Transfer of ownership will occur at
no cost to the District.
k.
Water systems that have been certified per WAC 246-290 as being
designed and constructed in accordance with District, SCH and
Washington State Department of Health (DOH) standards shall be
considered “certified”; all other systems shall be considered
“uncertified”. Certified and Uncertified systems shall follow the
respective Review and Approval Procedures indicated below to
implement the Ownership Service option. For Uncertified systems,
this shall include survey and evaluation of the system and completion
of all upgrades to minimum District standards prior to transfer of
ownership to the District.
l.
The District reserves the right to contract any or all of the survey and
evaluation procedures and/or the final design of a water system to a
professional other than the District who, in the mutual judgment of the
District and SCH, is qualified.
Review and Approval Procedures
Certified Existing Systems
(1)
Systems that are certified per WAC 246-290 to meet District,
SCH and DOH standards for design and construction will not
be subject to the survey, evaluation and upgrade process.
(2)
Systems that may desire Ownership Service by the District or
connection to another District system at some future date
should meet the following requirements during design and
construction:
 Design and install the system per the District’s current
urban design standards or rural design standards, as the
District considers appropriate. See Section 4.
 Coordinate inspection of construction of the new system
with the District.
 Prior to transfer of ownership to the District, have the
system designer certify per RCW 248-54 that the system
has been constructed per the approved design and that it
meets District, SCH and DOH standards.
(3)
Transfer of water system ownership to the District shall
follow the procedures outlined in the paragraph below.
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b.
Uncertified Existing Systems
(1) For “uncertified” systems, a preliminary survey will be conducted by the
District to establish the existing status of the water system. See Appendix H.
The District may require a preliminary deposit prior to conducting the survey.
The deposit will be applied toward the final cost of improvements tallied at
the completion of work. If the Applicant withdraws the request for service
for any reason at any time during the process, the District will retain a portion
or all of the deposit to help cover costs.
(2) Based on the data collected from this survey, the District will estimate the
costs for required improvements and routine operation and maintenance
(O&M).
(3) A meeting or other appropriate method will be used to review the survey data
and preliminary cost estimate with the Applicant. The Applicant may either
withdraw the request for Ownership Service or continue the process by
authorizing the District to prepare an engineering evaluation to more
accurately determine the work and costs required to improve the system to
and maintain the system at required standards.
(4) The District engineering evaluation shall include a detailed analysis of the
system’s operation, required capital improvements and projected O&M costs.
It will also contain a preliminary financing plan for improvements based on:
(a)
Minimum improvements required to meet water quality, construction and
reliability standards;
(b)
Required improvements to upgrade the system to District standards;
(c)
Additional improvements for storage, metering and fire flow (if not
already required).
(5) After review of the engineering evaluation with the Applicant, the Applicant
may withdraw the request for Ownership Service or, with assistance from the
District, pursue required improvements to the water system. Improvements
required to meet minimum District standards, particularly those associated
with water quality, safety and reliability, shall be completed prior to transfer
of ownership. Less critical improvements may, at the District’s option, be
deferred until normal repair or replacement occurs.
(6) Improvement may be financed by the Applicant through rate surcharges,
customer assessments, system development charges, and/or District-arranged
financing. District-arranged financing may include State and/or federal
grants, Local Utility District (LUD) bonds or other similar arrangements.
(7) If necessary and found to be economically feasible, the District
Commissioners may require the formation of an LUD in accordance with
RCW 54. Once an LUD is formed and improvements completed, ownership
of specified facilities, equipment and data shall be transferred to the District.
(8) After completion of the improvements, the Applicant and the District shall
pursue transfer of ownership. The District’s attorney will establish the
appropriate authorization and legal instruments for the transfer of system
ownership to the District. The items required for transfer or ownership may
include, but are not limited to:
10-166
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
Bill of Sale
Title Report and Property Deeds
Assignment of Easement and Franchises
New Easements, if required
Assignment of Water Rights
Authorization to Collect Rates and Fees
Hold Harmless Agreement
List of Owners, Customers and Service and Mailing Addresses
Maps, Records, Equipment Manuals and Data
Other information
c.
New Systems
(1) Levels of Ownership Service. Service can be provided to a Satellite
System through several scenarios, depending on whether the system
will “stand alone” permanently or has potential for connecting to an
existing District system (“temporary stand-alone”), and whether fire
protection will be required for the development by the Fire Marshal in
that jurisdiction. The District will own and operate the remote system
in either case.
(2) Permanent Stand-Alone System. A “permanent stand-alone system”
is a remote system which is so far removed from another District
system that there is no possibility of future connection/intertie. The
permanent system shall be designed and built to meet or exceed
District requirements as outlined in Figure 10.2 and “Ownership
System Design Standards”, below.
(3) Temporary Stand-Alone System. A “temporary stand-alone system”
is a remote system which is more than 1/2-mile from a District water
main that has the capacity to support the demand of the remote system
but has a strong potential for hook-up within 20 years of the date the
remote system starts operation. The system can be developed in one
of two ways:
Completed to match current standards of the adjacent District system,
allowing the eventual tie-in and integration into the adjacent District
system without major modification of the remote system; or
Completed to minimum stand-alone standards with the written
agreement of the developer that all or portions of the remote system
will be upgraded to meet or exceed the standards of the adjacent
District system at some future date prior to tie-in to the adjacent
District system; selection of this option requires the developer to
provide to the District the equivalent cash value of the intended future
upgrade at the time the District accepts the system. The equivalent
cash value shall be based on the District’s estimated cost of the
upgrade; present worth is subject to negotiation between the developer
and the District.
-
-
10-167
NOTE: Even though it will eventually be integrated into the adjacent District system, a
Temporary Stand-Alone System must by definition be designed and constructed as a
complete system to provide all the necessary service to its customers until such time as it
is connected to the adjacent system. See “Ownership System Design Standards”, below.
(4) Ownership System Design Standards. Each Ownership System shall
be designed by a Professional Engineer registered in the State of
Washington and shall follow the sizing guidelines provided by the
Washington State Department of Health. Each Ownership System
shall be designed according to the District design standards, Appendix
C of the Water Code. See also Figure 10.2.
Specific material and construction requirements and standard details are available in
Section 4 and the District’s Water Code.
10-168
Figure 10.2
10-169
10.2.2
Management and Operation Service
10.2.2.1
Policy
The District will not typically provide management and operation (M&O) service to a
water system. In those cases when M&O service is provided, it will be under the terms of
an SMA M&O service agreement. Each such “Satellite Service Agreement” will
address:
 Detailed description of the area served and owners’ names, including a single
point of contact regarding the Satellite Water System (SWS);
 Background leading to SWS formation and the District’s involvement;
 Terms, including:
o construction/improvement and ownership of the water system by the SWS,
per that system’s or per State and County Health Department standards,
whichever is greater, at the cost of the SWS;
o operation of the water system by the District (or a designated third party
agreeable to both the SWS and the SMA, as delegated by the SMA) per
State and County Health Department standards at the cost of the SWS;
 if operated by a third party, a compliance inspection of the water system by the
SMA, at the cost of the SWS, to be performed at least annually; the SWS shall
correct any deficiencies within a stated timeframe agreed between the SWS and
SMA; the SMA shall correct any deficiencies not corrected in the timeframe
specified and bill the SWS for such work;

payment of charges by the SWS to the SMA for operation, scheduled
inspections, administrative management, water quality sampling/testing, and/or all
other work performed by the SMA; waiver of lien rights; method of recovering
any delinquent SMA billings from SWS; and future expansion of the SWS.
 Hold harmless clause;
 Duration of the agreement (until the SWS is abandoned or connects to another
District water system);
 Other factors deemed necessary; and
 Signatures of District and SWS representatives, notarized as required.
10.2.2.2
Rates and Charges
Rates and charges for management and operation services shall be set as follows:
 For management and operation services, water rates and charges shall be subject
to negotiation between the District and the SWS and ratification by the District
Commission;
 Any compliance inspection fee shall be calculated and charged on a case by case
basis to recover District labor and vehicle expenses; and
 Any fee for water quality testing shall be set by the General Manager on a case by
case basis to recover the laboratory costs and District labor and vehicle expenses.
10-170
10.2.3
Contract Service
10.2.3.1
Policy
The District may offer contract services to any water system to which the District has
waived SMA service and/or does not have an SMA relationship. The District and such
water system shall agree to scope of services and compensation by written contract prior
to the District providing any contract services. The contract should include the same basic
elements as indicated above for a Satellite Service Agreement.
10.2.3.2
Rates and Charges
Rates and charges for contract services shall be set as follows:
 For contract services, water rates and charges shall be subject to negotiation
between the District and the water system and ratification by the District
Commission;
 Any compliance inspection fee shall be calculated and charged on a case by case
basis to recover District labor and vehicle expenses; and
 Any fee for water quality testing shall be set by the General Manager on a case by
case basis to recover the laboratory costs and District labor and vehicle expenses.
10.2.4
Support Assistance Service
10.2.4.1
Policy
a.
b.
c.
The Support Assistance program provides general assistance for
improving water service within the District’s satellite service area. The
intent of the program is to allow small water systems to remain
independent and operate at reasonable expenditure levels. The District is
willing to evaluate any form of assistance to help a water system improve
its level of service. Primarily, the program is designed to support smaller
water systems on a limited or non-recurring basis.
“Limited” Support Assistance can include, but is not limited to:
(1)
Leadership and support to small utilities to ensure their views are
considered in formulating local and state regulatory actions.
(2)
Opportunities for operator training and information system
support;
(3)
Administration of programs for joint purchasing of equipment and
supplies to achieve economies of scale (public agencies only);
(4)
Other information resources.
“Non-recurring” Support Assistance can include, but is not limited to:
(1)
Loan of equipment or supplies to a system to handle a special
circumstance (public agencies only, except that the District may
support a privately-owned utility in case(s) of emergency, in the
interest of public health and safety);
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(2)
(3)
10.2.4.2
Providing engineering/or technical expertise to a system that lacks
necessary staff for certain tasks (public agencies only);
Providing financial management/grant procurement assistance.
Review and Approval Procedures
a.
The Applicant shall first establish the utility’s eligibility for support and
the scope of the service(s) desired.
b.
The District shall provide an estimate of cost(s) for the service(s)
requested.
c.
The District and the Applicant shall execute a written agreement or formal
contract that specifies the exact responsibilities (staffing, equipment,
supplies, etc.) and charges for the service(s) that the District will provide.
This process will be expedited in case(s) of emergency.
10-172
Appendix A – Water Facility Inventories
A
Appendix B – CWSP Water Service Area Agreement
B
Appendix C – Joint Operating Agreement with City of
Anacortes
C
Appendix D – District Water Code
D
Appendix E – Land Use Maps
E
Appendix F – Consistency Determinations
F
Appendix G – Water Rights
G
Appendix H – Emergency Response Plan
H
Appendix I – Physical Capacity Analyses
I
Appendix J – Watershed Control Plans – and Wellhead
Protection Plans
J
Appendix K – Consumer Confidence Reports
K
Appendix L – SEPA Determination
L
Appendix M – Water Quality Testing
M
Appendix N – Sanitary Surveys
N
Appendix O – Conservation Materials
O
Appendix P – Standard Agreements for Service
P