ANNUAL REPORT OF REGIONAL WATER ASSOCIATION
OF
June 2009 – May 2010
Introduction
The Pierce County Regional Water Association (RWA) was formed for the following purposes:
- To exchange information regarding policy, purchasing, employment and operational matters in which mutual problems exist or may exist;
- To combine and coordinate efforts of the members in the solution of mutual problems;
- To provide joint action on matters of mutual concern.
This annual report provides information on the current composition and finances of the RWA and provides a summary of monthly meeting topics and major accomplishments on matters of concern to members of the RWA for the period June 2009 - May 2010.
Members
The RWA had 24 purveyor members and 11 associate members for the June 2009 through May 2010 time period. In total, the RWA members serve more than 187,000 connections. The complete listing of RWS members follows this Annual Report.
Board
The Board of Directors for 2009-2010 was comprised of Randall Black (president),
Finances
The RWA had $40,038.36 in the association’s account as of May 31, 2009. Dues for 2009 – 2010 were $25 per 100 connections, capping at $1,250 and $250 for associate members. Dues between May 2009 and May 2010 generated $18,281.25 and checks warranted $2,991.32 providing a balance as of May 31, 2010 of $55,328.29
Summary of Monthly Meeting Topics
Presentations/Informational Topics – To accomplish the purpose of the RWA, guest presentations were given at monthly meetings from June 2009 to May 2010 as summarized below.
Pierce County Comprehensive Plan Amendment – Katherine Brooks,Pierce County Tacoma-Pierce County Brad Harp , TPCHD- Natural Lawn Care Program –
Gary Porter , TPCHD - USGS Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed Model Overview –
Burt Clothier - Emergency Response Exercise Briefing –
Lou Dooley ,Pierce County - Groundwater Rule – Derrick Dennis, Groundwater Rule Technical Lead, DOH
- Groundwater Rule – Chris Mueller, Water Management Labs
Pierce County - Utility Finances Presentation/Knowledge Sharing – Nihat Dogan, FCS Group
- Water Festival, Report –
Brad Harp , TPCHD - Pierce
County Emergency Planning –Lou Dooley ,Pierce County
In addition to guest presentations, RWA members also provided briefings on subjects of interest to the Membership, including:
- Emergency Management Planning Activities
- Legislative Session Briefings
- Status Updates on the Municipal Water Law
- Proposed Residential Fire Sprinkler Legislation
Pierce County - Pierce County Comprehensive Plan amendment
- Pierce County Development Regulations amendment
- TPCHD Regulations amendment
Associate Members - In April 2007 the RWA began offering associate members the opportunity to present information to the RWA as a formal agenda item. The following associate members presented information regarding services offered by their firms during RWA meetings.
- AHBL (
Dave Matz - Robinson, Noble & Saltbush (
Burt Clothier , Rick Powell)
Other Business – To allow members to raise issues of interest and coordinate activities, each RWA meeting concludes with an “other business” agenda item. Other business agenda topics from June 2009 to May 2010 included the following:
- Status updates on the preparations for the 2010 AWWA Conference.
- Announcements of AWWA South Sound Section training seminars and activities.
- Briefings on
Pierce County - Informal briefings by DOH staff on DOH activities.
- An invitation by the TPCHD to assist the TPCHD with Group B water system manager training events.
- Information on Pierce County Emergency Management’s new reverse 911 system.
- Informal briefings on the USGS Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed Modeling study.
- General training announcements.
Major Activities / Accomplishments
Website Development
· As a means to more effectively communicate information, the RWA continued to finance the Pierce County RWA website. The website address is: pcrwa.org.
· The RWA continued its participation as a member of the Central Puget Sound Water Suppliers Forum. The Forum successfully completed its update of the 2001 Outlook, a comprehensive report on municipal water supply in the three-county area.
USGS Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed Modeling Project
· The USGS is currently developing a surface-ground water model for the Chambers/Clover Creek Watershed. Along with other former members of the 2514 watershed planning unit, the RWA is a participant in the project. When completed, the model will be the primary tool for understanding the aquifer and surface water system in the watershed, supplanting both the 1985 Brown and Caldwell and 2003 Technical Assessment completed under the 2514 watershed planning process. The Pierce Conservation District serves as the local project sponsor and financial contributions from RWA members and others has occurred. Although focused on the Chambers/Clover Creek Watershed, the study area includes portions of the Puyallup-White and Nisqually watersheds.
Emergency Preparedness
· The RWA is represented on the Pierce County Emergency Management equipment committee formed to distribute money received from the Department of Home Land Security. Through this process, the RWA was able to secure funding for the purchased of radios for use by RWA members.
· The RWA is represented on the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management, Joint Terrorism Task Force.
· The RWA continued discussions with Pierce County Department of Emergency Management to determine what can be done in
· The RWA participated in meetings of the Water Sector Coordinating Council which is working to develop a WARN program and a water Sector Specific Plan of the State. A WARN is a network of utilities helping utilities during small, large or catastrophic emergencies. WARN programs include the use of a mutual aid and assistance agreement that allows utilities to cross jurisdictional boundaries to provide aid during and following an emergency.
South Sound Section – American Water Works Association
· Representatives of the RWA have played a leading role in the re-establishment of the South Sound Section of the American Water Works Association.
Pierce County 2010 Children’s Water Festival
· Representatives of the RWA participated in the 2010 Children’s Water Festival and funding was provided.
Water Purveyors # Conn.
Canterwood Water Company 745
Carbonado, Town of 300
Dupont, City of 2,900
Eatonville, Town of 1,044
Firgrove Mutual Water Company 8,100
Fruitland Mutual Water Company 3,700
Graham Hill Mutual Water Company 400
Mountain View-Edgewood Water Co. 3,000
Peninsula Light Company 2,000
Rainier View Water Company 17,000
Spanaway Water Company 8,664
Sumner, City of 3,600
Thurston Public Utility District #1 143
Valley Water District 2,400
Total 185,007
Associates
AHBL, Inc.
Apex Engineering
Financial Consulting Solutions Group, Inc.
GeoEngineers, Inc
JKA, Inc.
RH2 Engineering, Inc.
Robinson Noble Saltbush, Inc.
Skillings Connolly, Inc.
Tacoma Pierce County Health Department
Water Management Laboratories, Inc.
