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Northeast Sammamish Sewer and Water District is committed to protecting the environment. In 1999 the Chinook salmon and the
bull trout were listed as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act. Other species are being considered for listing.
The District receives its water entirely from groundwater sources located beneath the Sammamish Plateau and Evans Creek valley.
Sewer facilities are located throughout the District. It is the District’s intention to operate, maintain and repair the water and sewer
systems in a manner that does not adversely affect the environment. In doing so, the District protects the high quality of your water supply.
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| Best Management Practices |
The District is in the process of developing formal best management practices (BMP's). BMP's are procedures specifically designed to
avoid or reduce impacts to aquatic habitat that might otherwise occur in the course of activities associated with the routine operation,
replacement and maintenance of sewer and water facilities. The BMP'S will cover such things as erosion and runoff control, construction
dewatering, water line flushing, maintenance and construction near streams, wetland protection measures, etc. These BMP's will apply to
both new construction as well as routine District operations. These procedures will help the District to meet its goal of carefully controlling
the impact of its activities on the environment.
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| Wellhead Protection Plan |
The District’s water system is served from five wells. The wells pump groundwater into the District’s distribution system and water tanks.
The water quality is superb. The District’s wells have never failed a water sampling test. Because the water is naturally superior, there is
no need for the District to treat the water with any chemicals or use any purification process. Since no treatment is necessary, the cost of
our water is less expensive than systems that do have to treat their water and we are able to pass on this savings directly on to our customers.
In order to protect this low cost, high quality water source, the District adopted a well-head protection plan in 1995. A wellhead protection plan
delineates wellhead protection areas for each of the District’s wells or wellfield. Residents and businesses located within the protection areas
are notified of their proximity to the water supply, activities that could affect the District’s water supply and how to prevent contamination.
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| Redmond-Bear Creek Valley Ground Water Management Plan |
In addition to adopting a wellhead protection plan, the District participated for several years in a regional process to develop the Redmond-Bear
Creek Valley Ground Water Management Plan. Participating in this effort were the City of Redmond, the Woodinville Water District, the
Union Hill Water Association, King Conservation District, King County, Seattle-King County Public Health, Water Tenders and private citizens.
The Ground Water Management Plan contains strategies to address the potential threats to ground water quality and quantity in the planning
area. The Redmond-Bear Creek Valley Ground Water Advisory Committee identified the potential water quality and quantity problems or
issues and adopted corresponding management strategies for: Special area designations to enhance ground water quality and quantity;
data collection and management; stormwater management; hazardous materials management; underground storage tank management;
on-site sewage disposal system use; pesticides and fertilizer use; well construction and abandonment; sewer pipes; solid waste landfills;
burial of human remains; sand and gravel mining; biolsolids and sewage effluent; and ground water quantity.
After the Plan was completed, it was certified by the Department of Ecology. King County, as the lead agency, recently passed an
ordinance providing for the creation of a Redmond-Bear Creek Valley Groundwater Protection Committee which will carry out, update and
modify these plans as necessary. The county is in the process of appointing members to the committee and the Northeast Sammamish
Sewer and Water District will actively participate.
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| Local Streams |
When the District constructs facilities near a stream, monitoring devices are placed in the stream to monitor water quality. This ensures
that construction run-off is carefully monitored and controlled. The District also collects rain data, which is used to study interactions
between the water systems’ operations and the local aquatic system.
Stationary generators have been installed at sewage lift stations next to streams or environmentally sensitive areas. In the event of a
power outage, sewage pumps are unable to operate and there is the potential for sewage overflows into adjacent areas. The backup
power generators eliminate this risk. In additions, lift stations are designed with additional storage capacity to allow time to respond to
pump failures.
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| Inflow and Infiltration Program |
The District has been actively participating in King County’s Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) program. Inflow and Infiltration is water that enters
a sewer system through indirect (infiltration) and direct (inflow) means. Infiltration is extraneous ground water that enters the sewer system
through leaking joints, cracks, breaks or porous walls. Inflow is stormwater that enters the sewer system from storm drain connections
(catch basins), roof leaders, foundation and basement drains, or through manhole covers. All sewer systems have some I&I. The District’s
level of I&I is very low. A low rate of I&I has two important implications.
First, the District is conveying less sewage to King County’s treatment plant. This has both regional and local implications. On a regional
level, the lower the total level of I&I, the less pipe and treatment plant capacity necessary. The same is true on a local level. The lower the
I&I level, the less sewage pumping station and pipe capacity are necessary.
Second, if a lower amount of I&I enters the sewer system, a greater amount of water remains in the local ecosystem. This is not only
important for stream quantity, quality and fish habitat but also for the District’s wells. Groundwater recharges the District’s wells, which
allows the District to continue to provide high quality water to its customers.
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| Conservation |
Customer water conservation has important affects on the environment. Water that is not pumped by the District’s wells can remain in
the ground and may benefit stream quality, quantity and fish habitat.
On an individual level, the Northeast Sammamish Sewer and Water District implemented a graduated rate structure in 1992 in which the
water rate increases with the amount of water used. The District has purchased water conservation kits that are free to its customers.
Annually, the District purchases lawn-watering calendars for District customers, which provide a recommended watering schedule. The
District also mails out periodic newsletters to its customers that provide information about issues affecting the District and encourage
customers to conserve.
On a regional level, the Northeast Sammamish Sewer and Water is a member of the East King County Regional Water Association
(EKCRWA), which in turn is a member of the Water Conservation Coalition of Puget Sound (WCCPS), the Central
Puget Sound Water Suppliers Forum (Forum) and the Washington Water Utility Council (WWUC).
The Water Conservation Coalition of Puget Sound is a water conservation advocacy organization started by and primarily supported by
water purveyors in the Puget Sound Region. The organization meets monthly and provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and the
promotion of water conservation concepts. The WCCPS has taken a position on conservation-related legislation and promoted active
support of water conservation programs. The WCCPS takes an active role in water conservation through the publication of water conservation
materials, the dissemination of member-produced conservation education materials, and the support of summertime radio messages to
promote water wise gardening and reduced lawn watering. The WCCPS also supports water conservation booths and materials at the
Seattle and other Garden shows and directly supports several speakers during the show who address water wise gardening. The WCCPS
works to get the message of water conservation out to the public by supporting displays and booths at a variety of local summer parades
and water festivals.
The Central Puget Sound Water Suppliers Forum (Forum) is an on-going effort to determine water needs for people and how these needs
will be met over the next 20 to 50 years. These efforts are conducted through the Forum’s Water Planning Committee and a variety of
workgroups, including the Conservation Workgroup. (Add link to their web page)
The Washington Water Utility Council has been very supportive and encourages legislative support of the water conservation activities
undertaken by the state departments of Health and Ecology.
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| What Can You Do? |
The following steps can help protect the environment:
• Conserve water when possible. See our water conservation tips
• Proper application of pesticides and fertilizers
• Disconnect any storm or roof drains connected to the sewer system
• Watch the The Groundwater Story (video) - King County Groundwater Protection Program
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