New Bill Gives You a Say in Who Provides Your Utility Service
On May 6, 2015, Governor Jay Inslee signed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5048 into law. When this law goes into effect in July, it will enables voters of a Special Purpose District to file a qualifying petition when a City attempts to take over, or assume, water-sewer services from their District.
SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT VS. CITY PROVIDER
Your water and sewer services are provided by Northshore Utility District (NUD), a “special purpose district.” Districts like NUD are formed by a vote of the residents, before cities are able or ready to provide the various public services. But whenever a city is ready, it can take over, or assume, the portion of the district that lies within the city limits. The city then gets to keep the district’s assets within its city limits without having to pay for them. Affected city residents have had no say in the matter—until now.
THE NEW BILL
A bill was proposed and passed recently that provides a way for the affected citizens to stop, if they so choose, the assumption of their water-sewer district by a city. Most of your local elected representatives in both the House and Senate feel that you should have a say and voted for it. Senate bill 5048 was signed into state law on May 6, 2015, by Governor Inslee.
HOW THE BILL WORKS
The new law allows any citizen to file an opposition petition with the County Auditor, within ten days of when a city passes an ordinance to assume a water-sewer district. The County Auditor will give the petitioner the petition number and ballot title within ten days of the filing. The petitioner then has forty-five days to collect signatures from at least ten percent of the number of voters residing in the area of the water-sewer district targeted for assumption, who voted in the most recent general election. (If 4,000 people in the affected area voted in the most recent election, 400 signatures would meet the requirement.) Once enough valid signatures are gathered, the County Auditor will put the referendum measure up for vote in a general or special election within 120 days.
NOW YOU GET TO CHOOSE
There are many reasons why some folks prefer to receive water-sewer services from a special purpose district over a city-operated utility. Keeping lower service rates and avoiding the city’s added utility tax are two main ones. Water and sewer facilities are constructed to follow the natural topography, not political boundaries. Water storage is always built at high elevations and sewer collection at the low point of the terrain to take advantage of gravity. For this reason, these facilities can be located all in one of the cities that we serve and none at all in the others that we also serve. Carving up a multi-jurisdictional water and sewer utility to follow political boundaries creates a whole new set of problems.
NUD INVESTS 100% OF YOUR RATES BACK INTO YOUR SERVICES
NUD is, and has always been, 100% supported by service rates. Your user rates and assessments pay for the services and all of NUD’s assets like reservoirs, equipment, pipelines, and water right for future supply. We are not supported by property taxes and do not have to subsidize other municipal services with your rates. Your rates go towards your services and nothing else. This allows the District to run very efficiently, keeping lower rates than what most cities can offer.
Water Supply and Rates NOT Affected by Drought Declaration
The declaration of statewide drought will not affect the water supply or rates for Seattle or Northshore Utility District customers. Normal water supply is expected for the Seattle water supply system this summer.
Northshore Utility District purchases all of its water from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). SPU’s current water supply outlook remains good for our region this summer. The water we will use this summer is already impounded in the reservoirs. The storage will allow us to have adequate water for the summer and not be affected by the drought. SPU has been storing additional water from rainfall in their reservoirs and making operational adjustments to compensate for lower-than-normal snowpack. The reservoirs are nearly full and in perfect shape for the summer demand.
Please note: Northshore Utility District and Seattle Public Utilities have NO PLANS to further adjust the rates as a result of the Governor’s drought declaration.
If you have any questions regarding water supply issues, please contact jguthrie@nud.net for more information.
Russell MacInnes, Our Dear Friend and Coworker
Many of you have followed Russell's story, first published in our newsletter in August 2013, and again September 2014.
After 21 years of service as a utility worker with the District, Russell was diagnosed with ALS in 2013.
Everyone who had the privilege to know Russell remembers the pure joy he brought to life every day, and the smile that never seemed to leave his face.
He put up a courageous fight these last two years, never losing his joy. On Friday, March 6, 2015, his battle ended and he passed on.
Many of you have given generously to help Russell's family with his staggering medical expenses. On behalf of his wife, Brenda, and daughter, Elizabeth, we thank you for your caring generosity.
If you would like to make a donation in Russell's memory, the MacInnes family have a gofundme site to help with medical expenses. You can also read more about their journey with ALS there.
We will deeply miss you Russell! You will always be a member of our family and we honor your memory.
Possible Summer Water Shortage? SPU Data Helps Address Questions
Our historically low snowpack, coupled with Eastern Washington and California conditions, has provoked many questions about our long-term water supply.
Northshore's water is supplied through Seattle Public Utilities, who oversee the general management of the water supply. SPU and other experts have issued official statements about our short-term and long-term water supply outlook, linked below.
The basics:
Because SPU managers have changed how they store our water, our rainfall and reservoir supply look plentiful enough to carry us through the dry season this year. It is always wise to monitor our water use, but not necessary at this time to ration. SPU is keeping close watch on our changing weather patterns, to ensure our supply will continue to suffice over the long term.
- SPU's water supply outlook and March 2015 data
- North City Water District has interesting discussion on factors affecting our summer supply
- Additional news report links:
FREE Sustainable Gardening Classes at Northshore Utility District
NUD is hosting another series of FREE gardening classes by the Savvy Gardener, inspiring new and experienced gardeners with practical advice on creating healthy, beautiful, sustainable landscapes that are good for you and good for the environment.
All classes held at Northshore Utility District, 6830 NE 185th St. in Kenmore. Find directions HERE.
Reserve your spot early! Pre-register at conservation@nud.net or (425) 398-4417.
Tues, April 21: 6:30-8pm: “Sustainable Veggie Gardening”
Presenter: Ladd Smith, co-owner of In-Harmony Sustainable Landscapes
Join the local food movement—learn how to create your own organic food garden!
Tues, May 26: 6:30-8pm: “Flora of the Pacific Northwest”
Presenter: Susie Egan, owner, Cottage Lake Gardens
Want a more beautiful, earth-friendly, AND low maintenance landscape? Join Susie to learn about how to best use native plants in your landscapes and gardens.
*To be notified by email when new classes are scheduled, email conservation@nud.net to add your name to the list.
New Rate Increases
Since the recession started in the late 2000s, through conservative fiscal policies and continuing to draw on reserves, the District has been able to absorb some of the wholesale rate increases and inflationary impacts rather than pass them all along to our ratepayers. For example, in 2014 SPU raised its rates to the District by 8.4% and the District did not adjust rates at all. In 2010, King County raised its sewer rates by 13.2% and the District absorbed 8.4% of that increase. Economic indicators suggest that the recession is over, and the District must now raise its rates in 2015.
A 2015 Rate Notification letter detailing the new rate structure was mailed out to all ratepayers the week of March 16, 2015.
- Click here to get an estimate of the amount of your new bill.
- Click here to read the rate notification letter.
- Click here to see all of the new 2015 rates for water, sewer and street lights.
As the letter shows, even with the rate adjustment, NUD's rates are still lower than surrounding municipalities and other special purpose districts.
We will maintain our efficient fiscal practices to continue providing you the best service at the lowest rates possible. If you have any questions regarding the new rates, please feel free to call us at (425) 398-4400 or email us at billing@nud.net.
Your elected Commissioners welcome the opportunity to discuss policy or future directions of the District with you. Please feel free to contact any one of them by phone or email - find their contact info here.
No New Rate Increase for 2014
The District will fund this increased cost, as well as new Capital Improvement Projects, by maintaining our conservative fiscal practices and efficient operations.
Click here for current rates: Service Rates
Mercer Island E. Coli Linked to Backflow?
Officials still don't know the source of the E. coli that showed up in Mercer Island's water system last week, prompting the "boil water" notice. As they continue the investigation, they are examining a potential source of the E. coli - cross connections between the domestic drinking water system and any other non-potable water supply, including landscape irrigation and fire sprinkler systems.
It can take a serious case like this to remind us all of the importance of cross connection prevention and annual backflow testing.
A working backflow assembly prevents irrigation contaminants from seeping into the drinking water. But all mechanical devices can fail. The yearly test helps ensure that your assembly is working as designed, protecting your family and neighbors from a potentially hazardous cross connection.
NUD currently identifies around 5,000 backflow assemblies in our District - this number is increasing weekly as new sprinkler systems are identified through ongoing audits of our service area. The District appreciates all of your help in making sure your annual test is completed on time. Your effort can make a difference in keeping our water safe for everyone to drink.