(360) 683-3905 info@sunlandwater.com

News & Current Issues

New Lower Reservoir Emergency Generator Installed

Emergency generators are critical to the operations of the SWD.  When PUD power fails, the emergency generators kick in to provide the necessary power to maintain operations. The lower reservoir holds 140,000 gallons pumped from the well.  The Emergency Generator provides power to keep an adequate level of water stored in the reservoir and to provide power to the booster pumps supplying water with adequate water pressure and fire flow to SunLand homes.  Our new Cummins generator for the lower reservoir, located near our office at 5762 Woodcock Road, arrived in early December 2022.  It replaces a WWII destroyer generator that served the District well but could no longer be maintained.  This generator will be put up for auction in April 2023.

Highway Lift Station Replaced

The Highway Lift station is critical to servicing 17 homes in SunLand.  It moves sewage up and over a hill and down to the Main Lift Station which moves it on to the SWD’s Water Reclamation Facility.  The old lift station made it 15+ years past its useful life, was no longer dependable to run and had to be replaced. The new Smith & Loveless Series 1000 Lift Station was installed in January by SWD, local contractors, and manufacturer’s personnel.

SUNLAND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS – WATER & SEWER SERVICES

Events which could impact water and sewer services in SunLand:

  •  Power outage
  •  Fire
  •  Earthquake
  •  Tsunami

Emergency power generators should keep the water and wastewater infrastructure going. The sewer lift stations are yet to be fitted with automatic emergency generators so it is prudent to use sewer services sparingly sewer services in the event of an emergency.

The SWD will attempt to communicate with homeowners via the One-Call-Now system in an emergency.

In any emergency event, having a few gallons of water stored in the garage or basement is wise; along with a few empty containers with lids in case you need to go get water and bring it home.

 For the SunLand Water District’s Emergency Response Plan, click here.

Water and Wastewater Testing!

 

 

Click here to download PDF version

BAT No.NameContact Number
B5380 Donald Lichten 360-477-9275
DC Backflow Service DCBackflowService.com
B4074 Craig Endahl360-683-8336
Tom's Plumbing
B7395Brett Romano360-808-6287

SunLand Water District Elections

Every two years, registered voters in the SunLand Water District elect one of our three Commissioners in the general election to serve staggered six-year terms.  At the November 2023 election, John Lewis was elected for a six-year term. The next election for a SunLand commissioner will occur in 2025.  If you are interested in serving your community, here is some information that will be of interest to you.

Eligibility:
A candidate must reside in SunLand and be registered to vote in a SunLand precinct. There are no district boundaries. The law makes no distinction between property owners and renters. Conversely, a SunLand property owner not registered to vote in a SunLand precinct is not eligible.

Compensation:
State statute allows compensation at a maximum of $161 per meeting.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Commissioners swear to uphold the laws of the state and nation. Specific duties pertaining to SWD functions, policies and procedures are decided and assigned by the Board President and the entire board. The Board has oversight on all District programs and policies and full fiduciary responsibility.

A SWD commissioner would be expected to attend monthly meetings usually held the morning of the third Tuesday of the month. There are also special meetings called to discuss or decide issues that won’t wait for the next regular meeting, or if a regular meeting must be held on a non-regular date. In addition, a commissioner needs to be available to residents and district staff on a regular basis.

A commissioner would be expected to interface with staff at all levels and be involved with off-site activities relevant to SWD. These might include, but not be limited to, contact with the City of Sequim and Clallam County officials and Washington Association of Water and Sewer District functions.

Filing for Candidacy:
It is necessary to file an application with the County Elections Department. Filing week occurs in May every two years. Interested parties may file for candidacy in person, by mail, or online. Please contact Clallam County Auditor’s Office in the Clallam County Courthouse building at 223 E. 4th Street, Suite 1, Port Angeles, WA 98362, 360-417-2568. Additional information and filing forms may be found online at the Clallam County Auditor’s website. Besides the application for office you will be required to file a statement with the Washington State Financial Disclosure Commission. This can be done electronically.

 

Washington State Regulations

 The 2003 Municipal Water Supply-Efficiency Requirements Act
(Commonly known as the Washington “Municipal Water Law”)

This law provides water utilities with certainty and flexibility in the exercise of water rights while establishing reasonable and achievable water use efficiency requirements. It applies to all municipal water suppliers with 15 or more connections.

Managing water efficiently can help water utilities decrease expenses and extend the life of water system components.

Monitoring the amount of water produced and used can help identify leaks and needed repairs. Leaks are a major problem—and a special concern because of the possibility of bacteria or other contaminants getting into water and possibly causing illness.

Key elements of the Water Use Efficiency Rule:

a. Water Use Efficiency Planning. Water suppliers must collect data, forecast demand, evaluate leakage, evaluate rate structures that encourage water use efficiency, and evaluate or implement water use efficiency measures.

b. Distribution Leakage Standard. Municipal water suppliers must meet a state distribution system leakage standard in order to minimize water loss in the distribution system.

c. Water Use Efficiency Goal-Setting and Performance Reporting. Municipal water suppliers must set water use efficiency goals through a public process and report annually on their performance to customers.

For more information, visit:

Washington State Department of Health – Water Use Efficiency 
This is the law that requires all customers to be metered by 2017.

Water-Sewer Districts – Title 57, Revised Code of Washington

This Title of State of Washington Legal Code governs the formation and operation of municipal water districts – including SunLand Water District. It’s various chapters spell out the way we must operate the district’s activities.

For more information, visit:

Washington State Legislature 
Title 57 of the Revised Code of Washington which pertains to water and sewer districts.

2023 Consumer Confidence Report

The District

The SunLand Water District is pleased to provide you with our Annual Consumer Confidence Report for 2023. This report summarizes information about our water source, water quality, the systems required to deliver safe, great-tasting water, and the team that makes it happen.

The Sunland Water District is a municipal corporation, governed by three commissioners who serve a six-year staggered term. The board meets every third Tuesday of the month at 9:00 am. The daily operations team consists of a part time district manager, a clerk/bookkeeper, an office administrator, four full time, and two part time operators. The district also operates and maintains the SunLand Water Reclamation Facility.

The district provides water to approximately 902 residential service lines within the Sunland District, and another 15 residential service lines to the Southern View Estates community. If you have any questions about this report, or questions concerning the district, please contact the district manager at 360.683.3905

Source Water

Water is provided to the community via two groundwater wells, located within the district. The water supplied from the two wells is not treated, no chemicals added, and no filtration. The upper well (#S01) is 250 feet deep, and produces about 500 gallons per minute. The well has an adjacent 110,000 gallon above ground storage reservoir and a booster pump station, which ensures adequate pressure throughout the district. The lower well (#S02) is 123 feet deep, and can produce 600 gallons per minute. It has a 130,000 gallon above-ground reservoir, and a booster pump station. Each well site is  inspected yearly for possible sources of contamination. Emergency generators at each site provide backup power during a power outage.

Water travels through 11 miles of distribution pipes to all residents. SunLand water is moderately hard at 170 mg/L, or 10 grains per gallon calcium carbonate. (CaC03). Either of the two wells, and reservoirs, is capable of supplying the entire district in an emergency situation. A sanitary survey was completed on July 21, 2023 by the Washington Department of Health. The supply wells, reservoirs, and distribution system did well in all aspects of the evaluation. (For more information, please reach out to the district office).

The SunLand Water District has a senior water right which ensures that we have more than an adequate supply of water now, and for the foreseeable future. All water services are metered, and read monthly. The SunLand community is almost built out with fewer than 35 lots available.

Water Quality

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general public. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.

Water Quality Definitions

PPM- Part per million: One part per million is equivalent to 1 gallon in 1 million gallons, one inch in 16 miles, 1 second in 11.5 days, or one minute in 2 years.

AL – Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

MCL – Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

MCLG – Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

ND- Non- Detected, NE – Not evaluated, ppm or mg/L – parts per million, SRL – state reporting level, ug/L – micrograms per Liter.

Trigger – Level where an investigation is initiated.

For more information about contaminants and potential health effects please contact the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water hotline at 800.426.4791

Water Quality Testing

Spectra Labs – Poulsbo, WA. Specialty State-certified testing performed for the district includes Lead & Copper, Asbestos, Nitrate, Complete Inorganic, Volatile Organics, Herbicides, PFAS, Gross Alpha, & Radium 228 samples.

Nitrates –   Sources – Fertilizer, Runoff, Septic.

Nitrates – Collected 10/06/23 from reservoir # 1- Result – 3.08mg/L, Trigger – 5 mg/L, 10mg/L MCL.

Nitrates – Collected 10/06/23 from reservoir # 2 – Result – 2.54mg/L, Trigger – 5 mg/L, 10 mg/L MCL.

Coliform Tested by Clallam County Water Lab – Port Angeles, WA

Over the past year, the district collected over 24 coliform bacteria samples. (Coliform is a bacteria that can be present in nature, and occurs in all human and animal waste. The bacteria itself is not considered harmful, however it is an indicator of potential contamination). There are seven coliform sample sites located throughout the district. Collection of the two monthly samples is rotated monthly between these seven sites, and the number of samples collected is based on population served. We are required to collect two samples per month. In December 2023, we had one unsatisfactory sample which required an investigation to find the source of contamination. Repeat samples, from the same sample site, also came back unsatisfactory; however, upstream and downstream samples were satisfactory, indicating the problem was with the sample station. After investigation, some corrosion was found within the sample station, and the sample station was replaced. Follow up samples came back satisfactory.

Upcoming Testing 

Coliform sampling – 2 Samples per month 2024
Nitrate – Reservoir 1 – Due September 2024
Nitrate – Reservoir 2- Due September 2024
Lead & Copper – Due August 2024. Sampled once every 3 years. Last sampled 08/05/21 with none detected in any of the samples.
Volatile Organics (VOC) Due July 2025 Sampled once every 6 years. Last sampled 07/17/2019.
Asbestos – Due September 2027. Sampled once every 9 years. Last sampled 11/05/2018.
Complete Inorganic (IOC) Due August 2030 Sampled once every 9 years. Last sampled 08/24/21.
PFAS – The forever chemical. Test Initiated by the Washington Department of Health. Waiting on state funding. PFAS Has never been tested for within the district.
Herbicides – Due July 2028. Last sampled 07/17/2019.
Gross Alpha – Due 08/24/25 Last Sampled 08/24/21.
Radium – Due 08/24/25 Last sampled 08/24/21.

Lead in Drinking Water

In the past year, the district has been tasked with identifying, and removing any water service lines that may be lead. Lead was commonly used for water service lines in the late 1800’s, until the 1940’s. Luckly, the district was developed in the 1970’s so no such lines exist. In Washington State, lead in drinking water comes primarily from materials and components used in household plumbing. The more time water sits in pipes, the more dissolved metals it may contain such as lead. Elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially in pregnant women and young children. We will be sampling for lead and copper on, or before, 08/05/2024.

PFAS

PFAS, (Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), or more commonly known as the “forever chemical,” has been found throughout the world, and dates back to the 1930’s. It is most commonly found in fire- fighting foam used to extinguish fires. It is also common in water repellent clothing, stain proof furniture fabrics/carpets, non-stick pots and pans, and food packaging. The chemical has been used since the 1940’s, and is very difficult to eliminate. The Sunland Water District has registered with the Washington Department of Health on state funding for the tests. Once approved for the testing, and testing is completed, results will be posted in this report. The good news is that only trace amounts have been reported on the Olympic Peninsula.

Water Operations

The water operations team works diligently each and every day to ensure we are providing the district with safe, high-quality water to all residents. We strive to address all customer service requests in a timely and professional manner. Licenses held include Water Distribution Manager, Cross Control Specialist, and Water Treatment Plant Operator.

During the late winter months of each year, one reservoir is taken out of service at a time, and is cleaned, inspected, disinfected, and put back into service. This maintenance usually is completed in December-March before summer flows ramp up. The distribution crew begins a fire hydrant flushing program during the spring months. This practice flushes any possible sediment from the distribution lines, and ensures the freshest water in service areas with dead-end mainlines such as cul-de-sacs. During the summer months, all water mainline valves are exercised to ensure they are operable in the case of a break, or isolation is needed for a larger area. These are just a few of the many tasks performed throughout the year.

Our goal is to ensure that we meet, and exceed all regulatory agency standards, and retain your confidence in us to provide you with safe and reliable drinking water every time a faucet is opened.

EPA/Center for Disease Control Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.

Need to contact us?

SunLand Water & Sewer District
5762 Woodcock Road
Sequim, Washington 98382
360.683.3905
Office hours are 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.

Download a PDF version here: Consumer Confidence Report

Serving SunLand with Clean Water

SunLand Water District

5762 Woodcock Road,
Sequim, WA  98382

Office hours are 9-1
Monday through Friday

Tim Berger, District Manager

Phone: (360) 683-3905

Fax: (360) 683-3324

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