Water Quality Notice
Northshore Utility District water customers are asked to look for a notification from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) regarding water testing results from December 29, 2015. The notification will come in the mail beginning January 15, 2016.
The notice describes that operator error caused high turbidity water to reach the Tolt Water Treatment Facility filters. Turbidity is a measure of how cloudy the water appears. The incident did not cause a safety or health concern and had no impact on the taste of drinking water. However, because the treatment standard was not met on this particular day, the Washington State Department of Health requires that water customers be notified.
Northshore Utility District purchases its drinking water from SPU and delivers it through the District's distribution system. NUD water customers can contact the District's Water Quality Officer at (425) 398-4419 with specific questions.
Northshore CERT Class Emergency Response Training
Are you ready for the next major disaster?
The Northshore Emergency Management Coalition is sponsoring a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class beginning on January 21, 2016.
This course will meet on Thursday nights at the Northshore Fire Department Station 51 in Kenmore (7220 NE 181st St.), from 1/21 through 3/10. All sessions begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclude by 10:00 p.m.
CERT students will learn to:
- Extinguish small fires,
- Provide life-saving first aid,
- Conduct urban search and rescue, and
- Perform other vital skills needed to help others after a disaster.
The first 25 students will be given priority seating. If you are interested in attending this course, please fill out and send in the following prior to the first class:
- CERT Training Registration Form (click for link)
- The non-refundable course fee of $35 (Credit cards are not accepted, please make check payable to City of Lake Forest Park)
The mailing address is on the Registration Form. Receipts for your course fee will be provided upon request at the first class. All participants will receive a student manual and the safety gear that is required to participate in the CERT classes.
Whether you want a little more emergency preparedness information for yourself, your family or you are interested in helping your community in disaster, we look forward to meeting you when class starts.
Be Ready, Be Safe!
Water Supply Update - 11/24/15
November 23, 2015 - Due to the overall shift in the weather pattern and the return to typical wet November weather, Everett, Seattle and Tacoma have deactivated their Water Shortage Response Plans. The recent rains have saturated the ground, filled reservoirs and generally reset the region’s water supply to normal conditions.
The three cities thank their customers for helping the region stretch its water supplies to meet the needs of people and fish in this unprecedented year.
Water Supply Update - 11/10/15
November 10, 2015 - SPU Water Supply Update
Recent rains have improved our region’s water supply. Now cautiously optimistic about water supply conditions, Seattle Public Utilities (Northshore Utility's water supplier), along with the cities of Everett and Tacoma, is moving to the lowest stage of its Water Shortage Response Plan, the advisory stage.
Conditions no longer warrant being in the “voluntary” stage, in which customers were asked to reduce water use by 10 percent. The advisory stage means that a potential water supply problem may exist.
This is still the case due to an ongoing strong El Nino that is expected to bring warm weather through the spring. While in the advisory stage, the cities ask customers to use water wisely by not wasting it.
We thank customers for helping the region stretch its water supplies to meet the needs of people and fish in this unprecedented year.
Using water wisely is always a good idea. Find water-saving tips and leak-fixing tutorials at www.savingwater.org.
Water Supply Update - 10/21/15
Oct. 21, 2015 - SPU Water Supply Update
After moving to the Voluntary Stage of their water shortage response plans on August 11, Seattle Public Utilities (Northshore's water supplier), along with the cities of Everett and Tacoma, asked customers to reduce their water use by 10 percent to stretch water supplies, for people and fish, to the rainy season.
Results: water reduction goal met! In the last 10 weeks, customers in the region have reduced their water use by 12 percent. In fact, our water use is well below previous years' (see chart). We thank everyone for their efforts to use water carefully.
Ongoing need to fill low reservoirs. Despite the recent rains, reservoir levels continue to operate below normal for this time of year (see chart).
Because of this, and the critical water needs for our region's salmon population, SPU maintains water use reductions are still needed until fall rains fully return and raise our reservoirs to normal levels.
With irrigation season over, more ways needed to reduce use. Typically, reducing lawn watering is the most effective way to cut back on water. But as the weather cools, customers should think about other ways to save water inside their homes. Here are a few below.
Top indoor water-saving tips for homes:
- Check for and fix leaks - please check toilets at least once per year!
- Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes
- Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving
- Reduce showering time
- Don’t pre-rinse dishes
- If purchasing fixtures or equipment, choose water-efficient models
Unless conditions change significantly, we will update you on the next round of regional water-use reduction results in mid-November.
Find more water-saving tips at www.savingwater.org.
Proposed Sewer Main Rehab Project
ESTIMATED START DATE: Monday, November 2, 2015
ESTIMATED DURATION: Approximately 1 week
CONTRACTOR: PEC, Inc.
WORKING HOURS: Monday thru Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT: Northshore Utility District; George Matote, Project Manager (NUD)
(425) 398-4400 x121 OR Pat Pisarsky, Superintendent (Contractor) (406) 459-5053
Project Description
Northshore Utility District will be trenchlessly rehabilitating the existing sewer mains in Swamp Creek Park utilizing a process called Cured In-Place Pipe (CIPP). The CIPP process will provide a new lining from manhole-to-manhole by inverting a resin impregnated, plastic coated, felt tube into the sewer main by steam pressure. The new lining is then cured in-place by the steam used for the inversion process. The result is a new continuous lining between manholes that is structurally sound.
During the installation of the new liner, you may notice steam exhaust and a strong resin smell as part of the curing process. Please be assured that this is normal and will not harm you or the environment.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we trenchlessly rehabilitate the existing sewer mains in the area.
Water Supply Update - 9/14/15
September 14, 2015 - SPU Water Supply Message
As reported on September 9th, our region has collectively cut back on water use by 14% - above the 10% goal. The cities of Everett, Seattle, and Tacoma are grateful for the actions residents and businesses have taken to reach that point and ask customers to continue their reduced water use.
Why are we still in voluntary reductions when we are starting to get rain again?
According to SPU, while recent rains have helped, they have not yet returned our supplies to normal levels. More rain and continued water reductions are needed to replenish water levels for people and fish.
Some steps customers can take to continue to reduce water use:
- Let lawn go dormant and limit plant watering to twice a week
- Water plants before 8am or after 7pm
- Check for and fix leaks, including checking toilets for silent leaks
- Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes
- Reduce showering time
- Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving
- If purchasing new fixtures or equipment, consider water-efficient models.
- Find more water-saving tips for homes and businesses at savingwater.org
Salmon Season
Saving water helps salmon, people and wildlife - especially this year! Native salmon have begun their journey home from the ocean to their birthplaces in the streams and rivers of Puget Sound, as they struggle to complete their remarkable lifecycle. Fewer fish are returning to some areas this year, but there are still chances to see this natural wonder as the spawning season progresses. For dates and places for best salmon run viewing, visit www.kingcounty.gov/salmon and click on "Salmon SEEson," or call 206-477-4704.
Water Supply Update - Voluntary Stage Issued
Following is the text from SPU's press release, issued Tuesday, August 11, 2015:
After unusually hot weather, the region's all-time driest May-July and in preparation of a potentially drier-than-normal fall, Everett, Seattle and Tacoma have moved to the second stage of their water shortage response plans - voluntary reduction.
The voluntary stage has been enacted because the potential for a water supply shortage continues to increase. The three cities are working together to manage water supplies for people and fish during the drought and higher-than-normal water use.
They are asking customers for their help by voluntarily reducing their water use by 10 percent. During the weeks of August 12-26, our region met this goal. Thank you for continuing your efforts to save water.
In an effort to stretch their water supplies as far as possible, all three cities are making operational changes and activating supplementary water supplies.
If conditions worsen, each city will decide if it will move to the “mandatory” phase of water shortage response and require customers to further reduce the amount of water they normally use each day.
Ways people can reduce their water use:
- Let your lawn go dormant and limit plant watering to twice a week – Doing this at home and at businesses can make a big difference.
- Water plants before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. — If you are watering, do it during this timeframe to reduce the impact of evaporation.
- Reduce your showering time at home, work and the gym
- Check for and fix leaks now, including checking your toilets for silent leaks
- Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes
- Find more water saving tips at www.savingwater.org
For more information:
Water Supply Update: Water Advisory in Place
July 27, 2015 - Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is activating the "advisory stage" of their Water Shortage Contingency Plan. This is in response to historic low river levels, combined with record hot and dry weather that has significantly increased water demand.
SPU supplies water to Northshore Utility District, along with 25 other cities and water districts in King County.
What does the "advisory stage" mean?
This initial “Advisory” phase lets customers know the potential for a water supply shortage exists. During the advisory stage, customers are asked to be especially thoughtful in managing their water use and avoiding waste.
What’s the outlook for our water supply long-term?
Our water supply outlook is still “fair.” SPU continues to project it will be “adequate until fall rains typically return.” With Monday’s activation of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan, SPU is taking the needed steps to maximize the water supply for people and fish in the event this unusual weather continues.
What can you do?
Northshore is asking our customers to continue our good habits of using water efficiently and avoiding water waste.
We will continue to update you should conditions change. A weekly report on Seattle’s water supply is available on the SPU website - see the most recent report HERE.
WATER-SAVING ADVICE:
- Water early or late to reduce evaporation
- Water deeply but infrequently - plants get more from one or two deep waterings, rather than several shallow ones
- Fix leaks around the house - toilets, faucets, hose bibs and sprinkler spray heads. Toilet leaks can be the worst water-waste culprits, because they can be silent and intermittent. See how to test your toilets for leaks here.
- Wash vehicles wisely at a location that recycles water
- Use a broom, not a hose to clean sidewalks, driveways and patios
- Wash full loads of laundry and dishes to save water
FOR MORE IDEAS:
- Visit savingwater.org for videos on fixing leaks
- Share YOUR tips at conservation@nud.net and we will publish them on our website.
Updated Water Supply Outlook from SPU
July 8, 2015 - SPU (Northshore Utility's water supplier) has released an official statement changing our water supply outlook from "good" to "fair" for this summer:
“We still have adequate supply until fall rains return, thanks to careful planning,” SPU Director Ray Hoffman said. But SPU's careful monitoring of climate and supply conditions has led to increased steps to bolster supply to make sure it meets our needs through summer. During the hottest June in recorded history, water consumption levels were higher than normal, while stream flows into storage reservoirs were lower than normal.
What does this mean for you?
SPU is "making operational changes to maximize water supply and asking our customers to continue to use water wisely." There are no restrictions in place at this time - it just makes sense to be thoughtful about water use.
- Read SPU's full report on supply conditions and what they are doing to increase supply HERE.
- Find our tips to help you in your efforts to use water wisely at home HERE.
- More water-saving resources are available at savingwater.org.