Section 8 - Regional resource issues

1. May 20, 2015 Section 8 -Regional resource issues Whatcom County Coordinated Water System Plan

2. Lummi Indian reservation • Peninsula Settlement Area • Associations: • Sunset Water • Georgia Manor • Leeward/Northgate • Harnden Island View • Outside Settlement Area • Neptune Beach Water Association • Sandy Point Improvement Company • Fertile Meadows Water Association

4. Water rights Discussion • Water Rights • Background (updated) • Case law • Changes or Transfers of Water Rights • Exempt well consolidation • Alternative means of water rights processing • Cost Reimbursement • Water Conservancy Boards • Certified Water Rights Examiners (CWREs) • Decision-Making Process • New or Replacement Wells • Retain or move some or all to Appendix? • Move bulk of text to Appendix with brief summary remaining in the main section?

5. Financial Viability • Update from DOH Fact Sheets • Table 8-3 Systems with more than 1,000 connections • Relocate?

6. Water Quality Concerns • Bacteriological Contamination • 30 systems with 93 violations in 2014 • Groundwater under the influence of Surface Water • Updated from DOH • No sources determined to be GWI in the CWSSA • Nitrate (MCL = 10 mg/L) • 21 systems (8 Community Group A) • Not treated • Sumas Aquifer Area

7. Water quality (continued) • Arsenic (MCL = 10 ug/L) • 11 systems (6 Community Group A) • All are treating or blending. • Lummi Island has 5 of them • Volatile Organic Chemicals and Pesticides • Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) • 1, 2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) • Bertrand Creek Water Main Extension aka EDB-line • Water right issued to Lynden for this supply • 0.57cfs (~266 gpm) & 70 acre-feet per year • 2004-2013 – 11.83 af/y (2013), 19.31 afy (2009)

9. Water quantity • Discussion of new Groundwater Model

10. Joint facilities and Interties • Suppliers • City of Bellingham • City of Blaine • City of Everson • City of Ferndale • City of Lynden • City of Sumas • Greater Vancouver Water District • 16 systems connected through permanent interties

12. Municipal Water Law • Definitions • Municipal water supplier • Municipal water supply purposes • Exempt from relinquishment • Approved number of connections no longer a limit • Changes in place of use via Water System Plan approval • Water Use Efficiency • Reclaimed Water

13. Questions re: Section 8 • Should the water rights section be moved to an appendix? If so, what portions of it? • Should the municipal water law section be moved to an appendix? If so, what portions of it? • Are there any regional resource issues that should be included that are currently not addressed? • Are there issues that are addressed that should be deleted or modified? • Gary has provided detailed comments. We have not yet incorporated his comments.

14. Questions (cont.) • Need update of Data Management, Quantity, and Quality sub-sections. Who is best suited to provide that information? • Would the WUCC prefer to see a draft with the existing proposed changes accepted rather than a Track Changes version?

15. May 20, 2015 Section 5 -Minimum Design Standards Whatcom County Coordinated Water System Plan

16. “Must” vs. “Should” • Words used to indicate design requirement • “Must” • “Will” • “Shall” • “Required” • Example: “Subject to certain exceptions contained in the Public Water System Coordination Act, each utility must adopt minimum design standards as a part of its Water System Plan (WAC 246-290-100).”

17. “Must” vs. “Should” • Words used to indicate an altered approach is acceptable if deviation from the standard can be justified • “Should” • “Recommend” • Example: “The utility should notify the fire department or fire district in advance before any changes are made to hydrant installation or relocation.”

18. Applicability • Existing water system: • Currently approved water system and its infrastructure. • Expanding Water System: • A public water system that increases the existing service area or approved number of connections. (Proposed revised WAC definition) • New water system: • New system with its own unique DOH system number. • Expansion to a water system: • Extension of new main from an existing water main.

19. Standards vs. specifications • Minimum design standard • Typically referenced during planning and design • More general • Contained in individual WSPs and CWSP • Standard construction specifications • Typically referenced during construction • More detailed • Contained in Technical Specifications for bidding and some individual WSPs

20. Fire Hydrant Maintenance • Fire hydrant maintenance is the responsibility of the water system and includes: • Hydrant testing • Maintenance of hydrant • Maintenance of access area • Painting low flow hydrants • Bagging inoperable hydrants

21. Fire Hydrant Maintenance • For liability protection under RCW 70.315.060 against damages that may arise out of a fire event, a description of the hydrant maintenance procedures must be kept on file by the water system.

22. Coordination with Fire authorities • Communication with local fire authorities is encouraged regarding: • Hydrant locations • Water main size • System configuration • System limitations • Water system/hydrant operating conditions • Consider interlocal agreements

23. Fire flow mitigation alternatives • To reduce the fire flow requirement, the Fire Marshal and the Building Official may consider a combination of alternative strategies • Strategies could include: • Fire walls • Enhanced setbacks • On-site fire storage • On-site fire pump • Sprinklers where otherwise not required

24. May 20, 2015 Section 3 -Population, water demand, and expanding systems Whatcom County Coordinated Water System Plan

25. Water Right Adequacy • Methodology • Display • Table • Map