Savvy Gardening Classes and Weekly Watering Advice
Weekly Watering Advice
SPECIAL MEETING APRIL 1: Rate Adjustment & Rate Resolution Hearing
A special meeting and public hearing regarding the rate adjustment & rate resolution (first reading) will be held on Monday, April 1, 2024. The special meeting will take place during the regular Board of Commissioners meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in-person and remote. To participate in the meeting remotely, please contact Brenda Smith at bsmith@nud.net before 2:00 p.m. on April 1, 2024.
The Flow: Check Out the First Issue of 2024!
Our first newsletter of 2024 is out! Did you know there are things you can do this spring to make your yard more water efficient in the summer? Also: meet our engineering department, and learn all about water and wastewater utilities. Did you know there are more than 140,000 public water systems in the U.S.?! Happy reading!
Water Supply Conditions Return to Normal
Thank you, Northshore Utility District customers! Thanks to the recent rains in our mountain watersheds and your help in reducing water, we are no longer facing a potential water shortage. Customers can return to normal water use.
In September, we asked customers to voluntarily reduce their water usage after an unusually dry summer and a forecasted dry fall and winter. Currently, fall rains have increased our water storage to 100% of normal in the Cedar and Tolt watersheds.
Even though our mountain reservoirs are replenished, using water more efficiently year-round helps stretch our supply for current and future generations. Water conservation can help keep water bills as low as possible, and in many cases, reducing water use can also reduce your sewer bill. Find water-saving tips at savingwater.org.
We thank you for reducing your water use so that there is enough water for both people and fish!
Northshore Utility District Honors IT Technician for 30 Years of Service
IT Technician Pat Sutherland was recently honored for 30 years of service at Northshore Utility District (NUD). During his career at NUD, Pat has served in a variety of roles including a Senior Utility Worker and Engineering Technician. In his current role as IT Technician, he is the first contact for any information technology issues and provides ongoing support for NUD’s technological infrastructure and equipment.
“Pat is always the first person everyone chooses to call,” said Pat’s supervisor, Mike Vermeulen. “I think that says a lot about the trust they have in him.”
In order to provide the best possible service to customers, NUD’s utility workers require access to the District’s databases around the clock. Pat provides that primary lifeline for operations in the field and will respond to requests for help at any hour of the day.
“Our team is committed to providing critical water and sewer services to our community, and technology is a vital part of delivering those services” said General Manager Amanda Campbell. “NUD’s technological systems run smoothly thanks to Pat’s dedication and approachability. Everyone feels comfortable asking Pat for help, and he’s always available to take a call or help someone in need. We are grateful to Pat for his continued service and excited to celebrate this significant milestone with him.”
“Pat has a great sense of humor and is always lightening the mood,” said Mike Vermeulen. “It’s been truly enjoyable to work with him, and I'm looking forward to many more years.”
Northshore Utility District is a special purpose public agency that provides water and sewer services to customers throughout the northeast end of Lake Washington. NUD manages more than 22,000 water and sewer service connections and 281 miles of water mains. For more information, please visit www.nud.net
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Media Contact:
Amanda Campbell, General Manager
Northshore Utility District
(425) 521-3728
Statewide Drought Advisory Does Not Affect NUD Customers
In early July, the Washington State Department of Ecology issued a statewide drought advisory. However, as noted in the advisory, utility companies in large metropolitan areas including Tacoma, Seattle and Everett have plenty of water for their customers thanks to robust storage facilities. Water for Northshore Utility District (NUD) customers comes from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) which anticipates it will have enough water for people and fish this summer based on current water conditions.
After experiencing a drier than average winter and a fast, early snowmelt, SPU took actions to store additional water in the Cedar River watershed. SPU continuously analyzes its water supply – monitoring water storage in reservoirs, the inflows into the reservoirs from precipitation and melting snow, customer use, and water released from dams to benefit fish. SPU also monitors the near-term and long-term weather forecasts and plans for potential impacts on water supply.
No matter what water conditions are, we always encourage customers to use water wisely and help to conserve this natural resource. Helpful tips can be found at savingwater.org.
The Flow: Check Out the Summer 2023 Newsletter
The latest edition of NUD's newsletter, The Flow, is now available. Learn about the Maintenance and Operations Team, the building remodel underway, recent recipients of the All Star Award, and why NUD had to make the difficult decision to raise rates. Thanks for reading!
May 15-19 is Water-Saving Week
Water-Saving Week is a great opportunity to minimize water waste, help the environment, and reduce your water bill. Northshore Utility District encourages all customers to celebrate the week by learning more about what can be done at home to save water. Here are a few ideas:
Find and Fix Leaks: If your water bill is higher than usual, you might have a leak. Learn how to identify the source of leaks and fix them. Resolving leaks quickly saves water AND money!
Save Water with Weekly Lawn Watering Advice: Regularly adjusting your watering schedule will help you maintain a healthy, beautiful lawn and avoid wasting water. Check out the Saving Water Partnership’s Lawn Watering page every Saturday for advice on watering for the upcoming week.
Rebates for Water-Saving Projects: Rebates are available to help cover the costs of upgrading to more water-efficient equipment at your home, multifamily property, or business.
Learn more at savingwater.org.
Save Water with Weekly Lawn Watering Advice
If you want to keep your lawn green all summer long, the amount of water your lawn needs changes every week according to the weather and length of day. Regularly adjusting the watering schedule of your automatic irrigation system (unless you have a smart timer) will help you maintain a healthy, beautiful lawn and avoid wasting water.
In the Pacific Northwest, the lawn watering season usually lasts from June to September. Check out the Saving Water Partnership's Lawn Watering page every Saturday for advice on watering for the upcoming week: savingwater.org/lawn-garden/watering-irrigation/weekly-lawn-watering-schedules.
The Saving Water Partnership is an organization comprised of 19 water utilities in King and Snohomish counties. They offer tips, tools, and rebates to help people preserve our region’s water for future generations. When we work together to use water wisely, it adds up to make a big difference.
Northshore Utility District Helps Customers Struggling Financially
Department of Commerce grant provides relief funding
Northshore Utility District (NUD) applied for and received a grant from the Department of Commerce that made it possible to assist 608 NUD customers financially impacted by the pandemic. When the pandemic-related moratorium on water shutoffs was lifted in October 2021, NUD customers owed over $1.6 million in overdue payments. By offering payment plans, through partnerships with neighboring agencies and charitable organizations, and with the help of federal funding, NUD has been able to reduce the total owed by over 80 percent.
“The pandemic has been devastating in many ways, and for some of our customers, they had to make the difficult decision to pay their utility bills or purchase groceries,” said Acting General Manager Amanda Campbell. “NUD staff worked numerous hours trying to connect customers with resources to resolve this ongoing challenge and the Department of Commerce grant was another avenue of providing support to those in need.”
In August of 2022, the Department of Commerce received grant funding from the Federal Government for water and sewer districts to assist eligible residential customers who were financially impacted by the pandemic. The funding was made available in mid-November, with a requirement of disbursing funds by December 31, 2022.
Northshore Utility District (NUD) applied promptly for grant funds and received an allocation of $258,914.57. The grant required NUD to establish criteria to prioritize distribution of funds to residential customers behind on payments between March 1, 2020 - December 31, 2021, and who also met additional grant eligibility requirements. NUD distributed $234,914.51 to 608 eligible customers, ranging from payments of $1.51 to $13,117.02. Letters to customers documenting their funding amounts were sent mid-January 2023.
To learn more about current assistance programs for NUD customers, visit www.nud.net/customers/assistance-programs. For questions, please call (425) 398-4400.
Media Contact:
Amanda Campbell, Acting General Manager
Northshore Utility District
(425) 521-3728