Alderwood Water considering rate hikes

  • John Santana<br>Mill Creek Enterprise editor
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 6:51am

Alderwood Water District customers could see their water and sewer rates jump in the next three years.

The district’s Board of Commissioners is considering a 3 percent increase in water rates, and a wastewater rate increase of between 9 and 13 percent.

“The issue on the water side is, what level of service do we want to maintain?” said Arden Blackledge, the district’s general manager. “On the sewer side, it’s driven a lot by new treatment plants.”

Also playing a role in the possible increases are new, tougher federal regulations when it comes to water and wastewater treatment. Such regulations could require water districts to test water more frequently and clean sewer pipes more often.

“It’ll require more testing and a tighter management plan,” Blackledge said.

Blackledge said the district is looking into higher rates now so that it can be prepared for not only when the federal regulations take hold, but also to deal with newer treatment plants, most notably King County’s Brightwater plant that is planned for just outside Woodinville in South Snohomish County. The newer regulations could also require the district to expand its staff, Blackledge said.

Once the board of commissioners approves any increases, they could take effect within a week. The district isn’t planning to send out a mailer to customers announcing the increase, Blackledge said, because doing so costs upwards of $30,000 in postage and printing costs.

The district had a public hearing on the various proposals for higher rates on Dec. 5, but no one spoke at the hearing. Comissioners asked Alderwood staff for more information on the topic at the Monday, Dec. 12 meeting.

Higher rates will likely be discussed again at a meeting at 5 p.m. this Monday, Dec. 19, at district headquarters, 3626 156th St. SW., Lynnwood. A public comment period takes place at the beginning of every meeting.

Comments can also be faxed to 425-742-4562 or sent via e-mail to commissioners@alderwoodwater.com. A link on the district’s Web site, www.alderwoodwater.com, also allows people to comment.

The Alderwood Water District serves approximately half of the city of the Mill Creek and unincorporated areas to the south and west of the city.

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