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policy:limited_availability_of_water_and_or_sewer_service [2012/04/05 17:55] – created adminpolicy:limited_availability_of_water_and_or_sewer_service [2015/08/28 21:57] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 ===== COMMISSION POLICY ===== ===== COMMISSION POLICY =====
    
-__**SUBJECT:**__ Limited Availability 0f Water and/or Sewer Service +__**SUBJECT:**__ Limited Availability of Water and/or Sewer Service 
  
 This Policy supersedes all prior water and/or sewer service limitation policies  This Policy supersedes all prior water and/or sewer service limitation policies 
  
-As an extension of its Emergency Water Plan, the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District (hereafter "the District"has previously limited the availability of water service and issued qualified assurances of water availability under certain conditions. Upon review of the District’s existing water service availability policyit appears that said policy should be revised to reflect changed circumstances and conditionsIn addition, in light of increasing area population and upgrade requirements for the District’s Wastewater Treatment Plant ("WWTP"), a policy regarding limitations on sewer availability appears neededThe Commissioners hereby find as follows: +**1. Water and/or Sewer Availability Letters.** All letters in response to inquiries about water and/or sewer service shall enclose this Policy on Limited Availability of Water and/or Sewer Service and shall include said policy by reference.((This Policy on Limited Availability of Water and/or Sewer Service is supported by the District’s current adopted water and sewer system comprehensive plans.)) These letters shall only be issued when the property proposed for service is included in the water and/or sewer service areas identified in the District’s approved comprehensive plans. The water and/or sewer availability letter shall indicate that statements regarding water and/or sewer availability shall be valid for up to one year from the date of issuance, or so long as the property proposed for service remains in the District’s water and/or sewer service areawhichever is lessExtensions may be granted at the discretion of the District upon the developer’s demonstration of reasonable diligence in securing all necessary CountyState and Federal approvals needed for land development associated with the inquiry about water and/or sewer service. __Any such time extensions shall be valid only if stated in writing by the District.__ The validity of water and/or sewer availability letter shall be automatically extended for an additional two years upon execution of a Developer’s Extension contract pertaining to the same property.
  
-**WATER**+Water and/or sewer service is not assured for any lot or parcel until said lot or parcel has connected to the system as per Paragraph 2 herein. At the discretion of the District, in order to facilitate accurate monitoring of the rate of growth in connections to the system, the Developer may be required to provide an annual projection of the number of connections associated with the proposed development.
  
-The District has purchased property and applied for a 500 gpm water right for a new production well ("District Well # 2") to be constructed at this site. The District has drilled a test well and is performing additional hydrogeological analyses to support the water right application.  +**2Connection to the system.** 
- +
-On April 2, 2002, the District and the City of Blaine (jointly known as the "Parties") entered into a water supply contract ("Water Supply Contract"). This contract provides for delivery to the District of water in quantities of up to 2.11 million gallons per day and 1,280 acre feet per year. The contract term is 30 years and may be extended by mutual agreement three separate times in ten year increments, for a potential total term of 60 years. +
-  +
-On February 14, 2006 and July 25, 2006, the Parties entered into interlocal agreements providing for joint funding and direction of professional hydrogeologic consultants, with the goal of enhancing development of the City’s water rights and delivery capacity to the District, and to promote development of additional water right applications, permits and certificates.  +
- +
-On February 28, 2008, the Parties entered into an interlocal agreement continuing the preceding joint hydrogeologic efforts and also providing for the cost effective delivery of water conservation and other water—related services.  +
- +
-On May 27, 2008, the Parties entered into the First Amendment to the Water Supply Contract ("First Amendment"). The First Amendment provides, in part, for joint development of new sources of water supply and specifies cost—sharing between the Parties with respect to such new sources. Under RCW 43.21A.690 and RCW 90.03.265, the Department of Ecology ("DOE") may enter into voluntary agreements with applicants for water rights where applicants’ reimburse DOE for the cost of processing their applications. This procedure is known as the Cost Reimbursement Program ("CRP"). +
- +
-On January 27, 2009 and May 28, 2009, the City entered into contracts with DOE seeking approval of applications providing for 2250 gallons per minute in groundwater rights. The CRP applications include the application for District Well #2.  +
- +
-The requested water rights are being developed under the terms of the above—cited interlocal agreements and First Amendment, which provide that any water rights secured through the CRP will be shared equally between the Parties. It is unknown whether and to what extent the Parties will be successful in obtaining additional water rights under the CRP.  +
- +
-The District is supporting and actively participating in the WRIA # l Watershed Planning effort to develop regional solutions to competing demands for water resources.  +
- +
-The District has implemented a conservation program consistent with all state requirements to ensure efficient use of water.  +
- +
-Suppliers contractually obligated to supply water to the District may be unable to perform their contractual obligations due to acts of God, inability to secure and/or retain water rights, inability to surmount regulatory hurdles or other performance problems beyond the control of the District.  +
- +
-Washington Department of Ecology ("DOE") regulations and policies require processing of applications for new water rights on a first come first serve basis, and the DOE is many years behind in processing new applications. In addition, many nearby basins, including the California Creek and Dakota Creek basins, are closed to the issuance of new water rights.  +
- +
-The listing of the Chinook salmon as a "Threatened" species under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA") may significantly complicate the District’s efforts to secure water rights for new or additional sources of water supply. This may be particularly true for obtaining surface water sources, but may also be true for other potential sources, including groundwater.  +
- +
-State water rights law requires the appropriator to apply water to beneficial use with reasonable diligence. lt is prudent, therefore, to restrict commitments of limited water supplies to bonafide developments that are being pursued with reasonable diligence and to provide assurances of water availability upon actual connection to the system. +
- +
-**SEWER**  +
- +
-The District has hired a consultant to perform a "capacity study" of the District’s sewer collection systemIt is in process of hiring a consultant to perform an engineering report of the capacity of the WWTP. The current status of these reports indicates that the District is nearing capacity of the WWTP and the collection system.  +
- +
-The District has scheduled improvements to both the WWTP and the collection system to upgrade the current capacity to accommodate growth within the District. The District has an ongoing inflow and infiltration evaluation and removal program to minimize extraneous flows in the collection system.  +
- +
-The District will vigorously pursue these wastewater capacity upgrades to meet the demands of residents and property owners within the District. Nevertheless, the District’s ability to complete these projects to meet the demand is uncertain and may remain so into the foreseeable future.  +
- +
-These projects require approval from regulatory agencies outside the control of the District. These regulatory agencies may include, but are not limited to, Whatcom County, SEPA, NEPA, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Ecology and State and Tribal Archeological Offices.  +
- +
-**Now, therefore,**  +
- +
-**1.** Water and/or Sewer Availability Letters. All letters in response to inquiries about water and/or sewer service shall enclose this Policy on Limited Availability of Water and/or Sewer Service and shall include said policy by reference. The water and/or sewer availability letter shall indicate that statements regarding water and/or sewer availability shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance. Extensions may be granted at the discretion of the District upon the developer’s demonstration of reasonable diligence in securing all necessary County, State and Federal approvals needed for land development associated with the inquiry about water and/or sewer service. The validity of a water and/or sewer availability letter shall be automatically extended for an additional two years upon execution of a Developer’s Extension contract pertaining to the same property. +
- +
-Water and/or sewer service is not assured for any lot or parcel until said lot or parcel has connected to the system as per Paragraph 2 herein. At the discretion of the District, in order to facilitate accurate monitoring of the rate of growth in connections to the system, the Developer may be required to provide an annual projection of the number of connections associated with the proposed development.+
  
-**2.** Connection to the system. The District deems properties to be connected to the system when all applicable connection fees and monthly charges have been paid. Connection to the respective system will only be allowed when the water and/or sewer system serves the property to be connected in accordance with the Design Standards in the current edition of the District’s Developer Project Manual and/or the District’s comprehensive plans. ln some cases, the District may require amendment of the District’s comprehensive plans in order to authorize connection and/or determine the conditions of connection. In addition, connection will not be allowed until Final Acceptance of system extensions. For building permits, connection is required at the time the District issues a water and/or sewer availability letterRequirements of this section notwithstanding, the District will continue to deem connected those properties that have been connected under prior District policiesprovided such properties have paid all applicable connection fees and monthly charges.+  A. The District deems properties to be connected to the system when all applicable connection fees have been paid and monthly charges have commenced. Connection to the respective system will only be allowed when the water and/or sewer system serves the property to be connected in accordance with the Design Standards in the current edition of the District’s Developer Project Manual and/or the District’s comprehensive plans. In some cases, the District may require amendment of the District’s comprehensive plans in order to authorize connection and/or determine the conditions of connection. In addition, connection will not be allowed until Final Acceptance of system extensions
 +  * B. For building permits, connection to the system per paragraph 2A above is required at the time the District signs the Whatcom County Health Department’s “Availability Notification for Public Water” form (which can be used to indicate availability to the County of either water or sewer service).Exceptions to this policy on signing the Whatcom County Health Department’s “Availability Notification for Public Water” form require Board approval. Instances where the Board may in its discretion grant an exception to this policy are generallybut not exclusively, limited to situations where the county has combined a building permit with a land disturbance permit or where a developer is proposing a commercial/condominium project and the meter locations are fairly close to the foundation. In reviewing such potential exceptions to policythe Board will consider such factors and impose such conditions as it deems reasonably appropriate. At minimum, the Board will require entry of a DE Agreement before signing the “Availability Notification for Public Water” form prior to connection to assure that District Design Standards will be met.
  
-**3.** Determination of Adequacy of Water Supply. It is the policy of the District to provide water supplies adequate to serve development at the time the development is available for occupancy and use. Recent forecasts indicate that connections to the District’s water system are projected to grow at a rate of 2.9% per annum. The District’s current and planned water supply is hereby determined to be adequate and available to meet said demand for new connections to the water systemsubject to the above-cited uncertainties inherent in the planning, development and delivery of water supplies+Requirements of this section notwithstanding, the District will continue to deem connected those properties that have been connected under prior District policiesprovided such properties have paid all applicable connection fees and monthly charges
  
-The District intends to monitor, on at least an annual basis, actual and forecasted growth in connections to the water system and progress in developing additional water supplies to provide for future connections at the time they are needed. If satisfactory progress is not being made in the timely development of new water supplies, and/or growth in connections has been occurring or is projected to occur at rates higher than previously projected, or if for any other reason it appears to be in the best interests of its customers, the District may impose a moratorium on water service availability. +**3. Determination of Adequacy of Water Supply.** It is the policy of the District, as detailed in the District’s adopted comprehensive water system plan, to provide water supplies adequate to serve existing customers and future development at the time the development is available for occupancy and use. Connections to the District’s water system are projected to grow at the rates forecasted in the District’s adopted comprehensive water system plan. The District’s current and planned water supply is hereby determined to be adequate and available to meet said demand for new connections to the water system, subject to the uncertainties inherent in the planning, development and delivery of water supplies. The District intends to monitor, on at least an annual basis, actual and forecasted growth in connections to the water system and progress in developing additional water supplies to provide for future connections at the time they are needed. If satisfactory progress is not being made in the timely development of new water supplies, and/or growth in connections has been occurring or is projected to occur at rates higher than previously projected, or if for any other reason it appears to be in the best interests of its customers, the District may impose a moratorium on water service availability.
  
-**4.** Determination of Adequacy of Sewer System. It is the policy of the District to provide wastewater collection and treatment capacity adequate to serve development at the time the development is available for occupancy and use. Recent forecasts indicate that connections to the District’s sewer system are projected to grow at a rate of 3.3 % per annum. The District’s current and planned wastewater capacity is hereby determined to be adequate and available to meet said demand for new connections to the wastewater system, subject to the above-cited uncertainties inherent in the planning, development, infiltration and inflow evaluation and removal program, and delivery of wastewater collection and treatment.+**4. Determination of Adequacy of Sewer System.** It is the policy of the District, as detailed in the District’s adopted comprehensive sewer plan, to provide wastewater collection and treatment capacity adequate to serve existing customers and future development at the time the development is available for occupancy and use. Connections to the District’s sewer system are projected to grow at the rates forecasted in the District’s adopted comprehensive sewer plan The District’s current and planned wastewater capacity is hereby determined to be adequate and available to meet said demand for new connections to the wastewater system, subject to the uncertainties inherent in the planning, development, infiltration and inflow evaluation and removal program, and delivery of wastewater collection and treatment.
  
 The District intends to monitor, on at least an annual basis, actual and forecasted growth in connections to the wastewater system and the District’s progress implementing capacity improvements to provide for future connections at the time they are needed. If satisfactory progress is not being made in the timely development of additional capacity, and/or growth in connections has been occurring or is projected to occur at rates higher than previously projected, or if for any other reason it appears to be in the best interests of its customers, the District may impose a moratorium on wastewater service availability.  The District intends to monitor, on at least an annual basis, actual and forecasted growth in connections to the wastewater system and the District’s progress implementing capacity improvements to provide for future connections at the time they are needed. If satisfactory progress is not being made in the timely development of additional capacity, and/or growth in connections has been occurring or is projected to occur at rates higher than previously projected, or if for any other reason it appears to be in the best interests of its customers, the District may impose a moratorium on wastewater service availability. 
  
-**Policy Approval Date:** September 242009.+Approved: September 24, 2009.\\ 
 +**Amended:** June 102010.
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