Board of Commissioners Votes for NO 2018 Rate Increases
March 15, 2018 - Kenmore, WA
Each year Northshore Utility District (NUD) evaluates its budget needs, weighing service and operating costs against future rate revenues. The District held public hearings on February 26, and March 5, 2018, regarding proposed rate adjustments that would take effect with all billing starting March 15, 2018.
No water or sewer rate increases for 2018
After strong consideration of public input and the District’s funding needs, the NUD Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a Rate Resolution for 2018 with NO WATER OR SEWER RATE INCREASES, despite a 2.6% increase in our wholesale cost of water from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). No sewer treatment cost increases were levied by King County for 2018. See rate tables below.
Balancing rising costs and service quality investments
When determining rates, the District looks at many factors related to providing your water and sewer services. Like any agency, we face continually rising business costs. These include increases in wholesale water and wastewater treatment rates, costs for security and technology, power, communications, construction, and increased wages and local municipal fees.
At the same time, we work to make smart investments to increase the quality of your services—investments in infrastructure to accommodate a growing service area and keep up with aging pipelines, IT security systems to protect your information, and new technology to improve internal efficiency and customer experience.
Efficient operating practices and reserves help fund some cost increases
Many agencies pass on all annual cost increases to customers, or require ratepayers to fund specific projects by special bond. NUD does neither. We work hard to keep internal costs down—and a comparatively low staff to service connection ratio—while funding improvement projects from reserves.
It is important to us to be prudent stewards of your rate dollars and keep your rate adjustments as even as possible, while still giving you the service you expect and deserve. If you can identify an area where we can be even more efficient, we welcome your feedback.
NUD rate comparison: lower rates than most neighboring utilities
Tables comparing our rates to neighboring King County water and sewer utilities are below for your reference.
Finding a meaningful comparison for rates among providers is often difficult. Agencies purchase water from different sources; some have their own sewer processing plants and do not rely on King County. These can have a profound impact on rates, making comparisons less meaningful.
*The sample water and sewer bills do not include any franchise fees charged by, and paid to, the respective cities that impose such fees on the District. They also do not include the utility tax that city utilities impose on their own direct service ratepayers. If you are a City of Kirkland resident, the City’s franchise fee is added as a multiplier to your water and sewer service rates. Residents of Bothell, Kenmore, and Lake Forest Park see their respective franchise fees listed as a separate line item on their water and sewer bills.
+NUD is the only provider to offer such a discount.
Questions or comments?
If you have any questions regarding your rates, please feel free to call us at (425) 398-4402 or email us at billing@nud.net. Your elected Commissioners welcome the opportunity to discuss policy or the future direction of the District with you. Please feel free to contact any of them by phone or email. Contact information is listed on our website at www.nud.net/board.
FAQ: Why Is My Fall Water Bill So High?
Recently many customers have contacted us with concerns about a higher-than-normal water bill. We want to address some of your FAQs here.
First, a few general things to keep in mind when you receive your September/October water bill:
Your first fall bi-monthly bill covers the majority of your summer water use, the biggest portion of which is usually from outdoor water use. It's easy to take for granted how much water a few hours a day - even a few hours a week - of irrigating racks up.
One hour of watering with a 5/8" standard hose uses approximately 1,020 gallons of water, or 136 cubic feet (cf) (1 cf = 7.48 gal), or 1.36 ccf (NUD's billing units). Multiply out 3 times per week for 8 weeks, and you have 33 additional units of water on your bill already! Many people do other water-heavy activities in summer, like filling up pools or pressure washing.
In addition, this unusual summer gave us hot weather plus a record 56 days without rain! Many of us attempting to keep green landscapes had to put in extra water work.
NUD reads water meters remotely, to avoid human error.
In 2012, NUD exchanged all of our manually-read meters for electronic radio-transmitted versions. When we collect meter use data for your bi-monthly bill, our techs drive a vehicle equipped with a computer that records the radio-transmitted data. Collecting information electronically reduces human error and the possibility of inaccurate manual recording.
Other parts of your bill are affected by higher water usage.
Three-tier billing structure: To encourage conservation, we bill in a tiered-usage structure. This means, when your water usage goes up, you pay a higher rate per ccf. One to 10 ccfs is billed at $3.45/ccf, 11-20 ccfs at $4.45 and over 20 at $5.45.
Increased sewer usage charges: Sewer usage charges have to do with how much “used” water you are releasing to be processed through the wastewater system. When water consumption is 15 ccfs and over, we assess $4.00 per ccf sewer usage charges (in addition to base charge). Few single-family homes reach this threshold.
Franchise fees: These fees are set by and paid directly to the city. Because they are defined as a percentage of your bill, when your bill increases from higher water usage, your franchise fee will increase as well. More info on franchise fees is available here.
What you can do to reduce water usage:
We recognize a very high water bill can come as a shock. The good news is that your summer water bills are the highest you'll experience all year. But there are a few things you can do to lower your water use during the summer, and throughout the year.
Be very careful setting irrigation timing systems. Recently a customer’s meter data showed an irrigation timer system set to run over 100 cfs (750 gallons) of water every night! If you have an automatic irrigation timer, check the settings regularly - or water waste can add up fast. Doubly so for soaker hoses left unchecked.
Audit your own water usage using your water meter. We read your meter remotely once every two months. But you can track your water usage more frequently at your water meter. Knowing how to read your meter can help you detect leaks early, measure the amount of water used, and understand your water charges. Find step-by-step information on how to read your water meter here.
Watch the comparison graph on your bill. If you’re out of normal usage range for a specific time of year, this could mean you have a leak somewhere. But when you check the comparison graphs, make sure to compare apples to apples – i.e. this year's summer water use against last year’s summer use.
Check toilets for leaks regularly. A silently leaking toilet can waste gallons a day without notice.
And call us anytime to talk through your bill.
Hopefully this helps answer some of the questions circulating about unusually high water bills. We are always happy to talk with you in person. Contact our billing department at (425) 398-4402 or billing@nud.net.
How You Can Help Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts
Kenmore, WA - August 29, 2017
TEXAS FLOODS/HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF DONATIONS
In response to numerous inquiries from our community Northshore Emergency Management Coalition is providing the following recommendations for relief donations for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
- RED CROSS: The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help provide immediate relief. Text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. You can also visit redcross.org or call 1- 800-RED CROSS.
- UNITED WAY: Text UWFLOOD to 41444 to donate to the United Way Flood Relief Fund.
- SALVATION ARMY: Donations to support The Salvation Army's Hurricane Harvey relief efforts can be made at helpsalvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
DONATE CASH, NOT SUPPLIES. Most charities prefer monetary donations instead of supplies. These are more flexible and cause less of a strain on the charity, allowing them to help more.
USAID explains, "Unlike material donations, cash involves no transportation costs, shipping delays, or customs fees. It also enables relief organizations to spend more time providing aid by spending less time managing goods."
Thank you for your generosity.
To get involved with emergency preparedness efforts in your local community:
- KENMORE/LAKE FOREST PARK: Contact NEMCo Emergency Manager Carl Lunak at (425) 354-1744 or clunak@northshorefire.com
- KIRKLAND: Visit Kirkland's Office of Emergency Management, or Kirkland Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) websites.
- BOTHELL: Visit Bothell's Office of Emergency Management, or Bothell CERT websites.
- WOODINVILLE: Visit Woodinville's Office of Emergency Management, or Woodinville CERT websites.
July Is Smart Irrigation Month
Have you ever been surprised by a high summer water bill? Extra water costs for summer irrigating really add up! This is partly because Northshore Utility District's tiered rate structure, designed to encourage conservation, means the more water used, the more each unit costs.
We could hit a rainless record this July and August! All the more reason to take advantage of July's Smart Irrigation Month to double-check your watering system efficiency.
GIVE YOUR PLANTS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF WATER BY FOLLOWING THESE TIPS:
- Lawns need just 1" of water per week to stay green, spread out over 2 or three waterings. Measure sprinkler output with a simple tuna can, or a rain gauge you can get from NUD for free. If you decide to go "golden," water deeply once a month to keep roots alive.
- Water deeply and less often. Check soil before you water to see if it's dry a few inches down. Water enough to moisten the whole root zone (the top 6 to 12 inches of soil).
- Water early or late in the day to reduce evaporation.
- Get water to the roots with a watering wand instead of a hose or sprinkler. For maximum efficiency, consider installing a drip irrigation or soaker hose system. View tips for installing drip irrigation (pdf) and a soaker hose how-to video.
- Use a smart irrigation timer to adjust sprinkler runtimes to match the weather. This reduces water loss from evaporation and overspray. NUD customers can get up to a $100 rebate to install a new WaterSense timer - learn more at the Saving Water Partnership website.
The Saving Water Partnership shares more in-depth information on outdoor water use efficiency.
NUD Volunteers Continue Our Community-Cleanup Tradition
On Saturday, June 3rd, a volunteer crew of NUD employees, friends and family gathered together to help spruce up NUD's adopted stretch of Juanita Drive.
A NUD tradition for many years, our Adopt-a-Road area was named "Nancy's Mile" in memoriam of a former NUD employee.
Adopt-a-Road is just one extension of NUD's commitment to community service, a tradition we're proud to continue.
Just half of our volunteer team working hard to make "Nancy's Mile" shine!
March 20-26th Is Fix-A-Leak Week
MARCH 20-26TH IS FIX-A-LEAK WEEK
That annoying faucet drip at your bathroom sink - did you know if you let it go long enough, it can cost you more than 3,000 gallons of water per year? That’s enough water to take more than 180 showers! These kind of small leaks – let alone larger ones – use up over 1 trillion gallons of water a year in U.S. homes.
Every March utilities nationwide promote Fix-a-Leak Week to help us all remember to hunt down and catch those drips.
Doing regular home water audits can help you make sure you’re using water as efficiently as possible. In addition to saving this important resource, it might even save you some extra money on your water bill.
Northshore Utility District has a full page on finding and fixing common home leaks. [We even made a video!] Below are some top tips.
TOP WAYS TO WATCH OUT FOR LEAKS:
1. CHECK YOUR WATER BILL. Is it a lot higher than normal, or than previous months? This could be a sign of a leak. Your bimonthly bill includes a handy comparison graph to help you track changes.
2. PAY ATTENTION TO "POTENTIAL LEAK NOTICES. Our “smart” water meters are equipped with a sensor that registers continuous usage. When we read your bill every two months, if your meter triggered this alarm, we send you a notice.
Sometimes the leaks are small and don’t change your bill much. But keep in mind: small leaks eventually become large, expensive problems – especially on your outside water line – and it’s wise to investigate right away. Further, our leak adjustment policy only allows a certain amount of time to make repairs and request a credit on your bill of some of the excess water use caused by the leak.
3. CHECK YOUR WATER METER - for “real time” information. It’s typically located at the edge of your property line in a concrete or plastic box. Use a screwdriver to lift the metal lid. You may need to dig away some dirt (used for insulation) to find the meter. Lift the black cap covering the meter face to see the water-use register.
You can check for leaks using your meter in two ways. Make sure no water is being used inside or outside your home first.
4. TEST YOUR TOILET - the most common indoor home leak. Drop a few drops of food coloring into the tank and let it sit for 15–30 minutes – or overnight, if possible. If the color seeps into the bowl, you have a leak. Flush toilet afterward to avoid staining.
Toilet leaks can waste 200 gallons or more per day! A loose flapper is a common cause – here’s a video showing you how to replace your old flapper.
If you are ready to replace your toilet, you may benefit from this rebate for high-efficiency toilets that use fewer gallons per flush.
MORE WAYS TO USE WATER WISELY
As a NUD customer, you have access to free water-saving resources!
- Faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads – two per household allowed. Stop by our office to pick some up.
- FREE gardening classes to help make your landscape as water-efficient as possible – held right here at NUD! Classes are taught by local landscape and garden pros – some of whom even teach at the NW Flower and Garden show. Check out our class roster and register for a class at www.nud.net/gardening. See more local classes at www.savingwater.org.
Water Leak or Ground Water?
Ground oversaturation from heavy rains can look a lot like a bad underground leak.
During our last month of record-setting rainfall, NUD has fielded high numbers of calls from residents concerned about water leaks.
At first glance, it looks like a break in an underground water line: water is flowing or looks to be “bubbling up” from the street, or a driveway or yard. But when large storms and heavy rainfall occur – as we’ve experienced this February - this type of “leak” situation is often caused by ground water. When the ground is saturated, water has no other place to go than to run – down the street, through a yard, over a driveway.
NUD handles water/sewer issues, but city storm crews take care of ground water concerns. We want to make sure the issue gets routed to the right party right away so response can be efficient and immediate.
At first glance, it looks like a break in an underground water line: water is flowing or looks to be “bubbling up” from the street, or a driveway or yard. But when large storms and heavy rainfall occur – as we’ve experienced this February - this type of “leak” situation is often caused by ground water. When the ground is saturated, water has no other place to go than to run – down the street, through a yard, over a driveway.
NUD handles water/sewer issues, but city storm crews take care of ground water concerns. We want to make sure the issue gets routed to the right party right away so response can be efficient and immediate.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THE ISSUE IS A LEAK OR EXCESS GROUND WATER?
-
The blue "leak dial" on your meter face spins when water runs continuously. If you're not using water on purpose, this could mean a leak somewhere. Check your meter (make sure no water is being used inside/outside). If you have a leak on your property, you will see the “leak indicator dial” – a tiny blue snowflake on the meter face – spinning continuously.
For more help troubleshooting leaks, here's a video to walk you through the steps. If you do have a leak and don’t know what to do, please call us (24/7 in emergencies).
- If you see water running down the street, listen for a moment. Do you hear water flowing in the storm drains? If not, that is a good sign the storm drain is blocked and the water you see is storm water runoff. In that case, you want to call the city storm crews right away – you can find contact numbers HERE.
French drains are often hidden, so
overflows can look like water
"bubbling up" from underground. - Do you see water “bubbling up” from somewhere on someone else’s property? A lot of times these are overflowing French drain systems. If you can get closer, you might see the water source is greenish in color – a sign of algae/plant life in groundwater. Public water is treated and will always run clear.
Hopefully this information helps – first, to relieve immediate concerns that you have a leak on your property, which no homeowner wants! Ground water issues often resolve themselves after a couple of days. But if flooding looks possible, getting city storm crews involved right away can help them address the trouble before it gets worse.
But please be kind to your city storm crews! In extreme weather situations, they are doing their best to respond to many service calls as quickly as possible. You can help by clearing any visible debris like leaves or trash from storm drains to avoid clogs.
As always, if you have a water or sewer emergency, we are available to you 24/7 – contact (425) 398-4400. And we’re happy to answer any questions anytime.
NUD Staff Earn Honors In Leadership Course
January 4, 2017
We are proud to announce that four members of Northshore Utility District’s operations staff recently completed an intensive leadership course through the Dale Carnegie Institute, winning several awards throughout the program.
Brian Gumke, Water Quality and Safety Officer, earned the “Highest Achievement Award” for his outstanding performance throughout the course; Senior Utility Worker Rick Alne was awarded the “Break-Out Award”; and Utility Worker John Herndon obtained the “Outstanding Performance” award.
We are very proud to celebrate both their achievements - all earned during their own time - and our entire team's commitment to professional growth and excellence. To date, NUD has graduated eight staff through this leadership course.
Dave McMorris Recognized for Workplace Leadership
December 8, 2016 - Northshore Utility District (NUD) Inventory and Purchasing Specialist Dave McMorris will be highlighted in an upcoming publication of the Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts (WASWD). The feature invited WASWD member agencies to nominate staff who represent going “above and beyond the call of duty” to serve the public.
Inventory and Purchasing is one of those hard-working interior gears of an organization – not often spotlighted because it’s busy keeping the machine running smoothly. But Dave’s work is integral to NUD’s success and service of our customers. We are privileged to him on our team and to share this recognition.
The full text of the article is included below – nomination written by NUD Finance Director Steve Hamilton.
"Northshore Utility District’s Inventory and Purchasing Specialist Dave McMorris is a prime example of workplace leadership and continually going above and beyond the call of duty for Northshore Utility District and its customers.
Dave has been working for the District for almost seven years, and provides both internal and external customer service at a level most managers only dream of.
Dave’s responsibilities are typical for an inventory and purchasing specialist:
- Orders, procures, receives, distributes, and manages inventories.
- Researches and negotiates pricing for the best goods/services at the best value.
- Analyzes and develops complete specifications to meet the competitive price quotes requirement among all vendors.
- Conducts open competitive bidding processes from start to finish and evaluates performance to ensure contract compliance and user satisfaction
- Prepares and maintains databases and spreadsheets to analyze and monitor inventory of purchases of all tools, equipment and supplies for yearly state audit
- Stocks.
- Maintains inventory records and levels.
However, it is the manner in which he manages these responsibilities that makes him such an invaluable member of the District’s team. He goes so far beyond the level of simply meeting these responsibilities. He OWNS them, taking great pride in everything he does. It is not uncommon for Dave to pore over a voluminous purchase agreement to make sure that the supplier lives up to all his commitment. When a lunchtime delivery interrupts his lunch, he happily makes his way back to the inventory room and takes care of business.
Everything Dave does, he does with a big smile on his face and a bounce in his step, cheerfully greeting every employee along the way. He has an attitude unsurpassed within the District. Dave does his job with a pleasant demeanor and youthful smile, not commonly found in an inventory and purchase guy.
He is always cognizant of the bottom line. He has researched using different vendors over the past year which resulted in over $15K in savings.
We have annual All Star awards to employees who go that extra mile. The recipients are voted on by their co-workers. Since inception, Dave has been an annual winner."
Juanita H.S. Teacher and Bothell Resident Matt Breysse Appointed as Commissioner
November 29, 2016
(L) [shown here with District legal counsel Kinnon
Williams at right] was sworn into office on Monday,
November 21, 2016.
Mr. Breysse brings to the position a long commitment to public service. Born and raised in Seattle, Matt earned his Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Administration from Western Washington University, in addition to a teaching certification from Seattle Public University. An educator for the past 21 years, he currently teaches history at Juanita High School.
Matt had actually run against Margaret Wiggins in the General and Special Election held in 2015. Among his reasons for pursuing the role, Mr. Breysse
cited the importance of protecting “the reliable water and sewer system[s] that we all use [which are] easy to take for granted.” Matt relayed his commitment to work with the commissioners to make sure NUD continues to provide “safe, reliable, low-cost water and sewer [services]” both now and in the future, and to promote a “concern for sustainability, environmental stewardship and accountability.”
Matt and his wife Sheila have lived in Bothell for over 27 years and have raised their two daughters here. In his free time, he enjoys golfing and listening to live music.
Matt looks forward to meeting and working for the people of Northshore Utility District. He can be reached by email at mbreysse@nud.net.