Your Water Is Safe! Why Flint, MI Situation Won't Happen Here
The ongoing news coverage of the public water crisis in Flint, Michigan has understandably raised concerns everywhere about water safety. Northshore Utility District (NUD) has been watching the situation closely.
For those concerned, we want to first assure you that our water, tested daily, is safe to drink. Flint’s water crisis was caused both by different conditions as well as testing processes. This article shares four main reasons why we are safeguarded from the same lead hazards.
1. No lead in our lines
First, it is important to note that lead does not come from the water source. Lead is leached into the water system from plumbing materials and fixtures constructed with certain metals—most commonly, lead solder used in copper plumbing systems.
Seattle banned use of lead solder in 1980; the plumbing code followed suit in 1985. But older systems like Flint’s contains more of the old pipe materials containing lead. Northshore Utility District uses newer high-grade plastic service lines and has replaced nearly all older galvanized lines with plastic. We estimate that only a very small fraction of our existing water service lines - as few as 200 out of the 22,000 – are not plastic.
Additionally, a few years ago the District exchanged all of its water meters with “no lead” compliant water meters—a decision made well before the legislative mandate. Our entire distribution system, tested frequently for water safety, contains virtually no lead.
2. At-risk areas surveyed regularly for lead levels
Some homes built or re-plumbed with copper plumbing before 1980 may be at risk. As part of their daily water testing, Seattle Public Utilities and NUD obtain data from a sample collected from at-risk homes every three years (see data from 2015 Water Quality Report). The last survey in 2014 showed no lead levels in at-risk homes were above EPA limits.
If your home was built or re-plumbed with copper plumbing before 1985, it is ultimately your decision as a homeowner whether or not to replace the older pipes that may contain lead solder. If you have concerns, you can contact NUD’s Water Quality Office to be added to our test sampling. You can also hire an outside test company to test the water coming through your fixtures.
3. Our water treatment prevents pipe corrosion
Flint’s water source has a naturally acidic pH. Acidic water will corrode pipes faster, allowing pipe lead to leach into the drinking water. Our water source from the Tolt Reservoir is naturally neutral on the pH scale.
But more importantly, unlike Flint, our water is treated at the source before it enters the pipe systems. In a recent King 5 news interview, SPU water quality official Wylie Harper described the treatment process as “optimiz[ing] the chemistry, so it’s as least aggressive or least corrosive as possible on [the older] plumbing materials.” Flint employed no source water treatment to balance its source water acidity to reduce the chances of pipe corrosion.
4. We test daily for your safety
Finally, unlike Flint’s flawed testing processes, your water is regularly tested to ensure it remains safe. In accordance with Department of Health requirements, we continually inform you of the condition of your drinking water through both your annual Water Quality Report, and regular notices for unusual issues.
Lead test samples taken every three years from at-risk homes in our area have continued to show lead amounts below the Environmental Protection Agency action levels of 15 parts per billion.
Delivering your family clean, safe water is our #1 priority. If you have ongoing concerns about your water or would like more information on how it is treated, please contact our Water Quality Office at (425) 398-4419 or waterquality@nud.net.
Links to more information:
- Department of Ecology - list of certified water testing labs
- Local Kirkland water testing lab AmTest
- SPU Lead and Copper info page
- King 5 news feature on Seattle Water quality (2nd of 3 features)
NUD Public Auction of Surplus Items
Northshore Utility District is holding a public auction of surplus items. Details on how to participate and full list of surplus items up for auction provided HERE.
Public Hearings to Discuss 2016 Rate Resolution
THE FOLLOWING WAS PUBLISHED AS A PUBLIC NOTICE:
Northshore Utility District’s Board of Commissioners will hold Public Hearings during their next two regularly scheduled Board Meetings on Monday, February 1, 2016 and Monday, February 22, 2016 at 5:30 pm at the District Headquarters located at 6830 NE 185th Street in Kenmore. The purpose of these hearings is to discuss the 2016 Rate Resolution.
Former NUD GM Honored for Outstanding Community Service
On Wednesday, February 3rd, Ron Gehrke will receive the 2015 McMaster Heritage Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the Kenmore Community.
After a 30 year career at the District, Mr. Gehrke served for 12 years as a Commissioner of the Northshore Fire Department.
We join the Kenmore Heritage Society in celebrating Ron for his years of service - the honor is well-deserved!
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.