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.
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