The following is a summary of the current issues we are facing with the water system.

Water Engineer and Consultant downtown Seattle: INFILTRATION TRENCH SYSTEMS like ours for ground water collection are fine. Many are still functioning well and are quite efficient for 100 years if the site is well selected and is not disturbed by construction or other activity that disturbs the volume or flow of water in the surrounding area. After describing to him our system, he seems to think that we have a well functioning system with very good flow. If the construction around it is well controlled we should see many more years of service out of this system. Rebuilding it is an option but this means redoing the whole trench system as it is not possible to clean it out. Looking at the pristine water in the wet well and low sludge levels there, the system is in good shape. Vacuuming the system as suggested is a good way to tell if filtration in the system has been overwhelmed. Ours appears fine because of low turbidity of water coming into wet well.

Water should be tested for chemicals and asbestos on a yearly basis, especially for naturally occurring bad chemicals like arsenic, which is less likely in trench systems than in wells. I have told him that I will install a filter at my home and after 6 months send it to him for analysis of the asbestos content.

Our documentation shows that all of our main distribution lines are cement asbestos (A.C. pipe). This is not all bad, as many are functioning well and have not broken or sent out asbestos. The length of time these pipes last depend a lot on how they are installed and what type of water flows through them. Very soft acidic water can make them leak out and deteriorate, and eventually break. They can also de laminate and send asbestos into the lines. If installed over a compacted rock base with good support, they last a long time because these pipes do not flex and need very strong support under them.

The most common problem with these are the lines connecting to the home sites. If the main AC pipes are well supported and the home supply lines are not, then when any weight is put on top they tend to break or pull right off and/or break the AC pipe right at the junction. The other problem is the branch attachments are not well engineered in the AC pipes. Replacing the segment where the home supply lines come off with a proper brass or plastic nipple for 2-3 feet and supporting this is of great help.

AC pipes can be checked for de lamination by endoscopic means, and suspicious pipes could have sections cut out and analyzed in the lab.

Having a backup system of drilled wells is a good idea, but for a recreational area it may not be cost effective, especially if we can work on the distribution system leaks. Perhaps it would be better to spend money on auto shutoff valves at the main lines to shut down a segment automatically when there is a break. Another issue is the need for a contracted plumber for water line breaks. There are contract engineers that for a monthly fee will send a crew out when there are breaks. They can be a cheaper option than a plumber because they have detecting equipment and get to the spot right away.

Terry Lenihan-Snoqualmie Pass Water and Sewer Utility District Manager: He confirmed what the engineer above said about the structural aspect of the system. Also, he affirms that if the infiltration system is working well, there is no need to change it, as the asbestos pipes are not a problem if well constructed.

Terry would be willing to look at our system and tell us what upgrades, if any, are necessary. He can also lead us through the steps of forming a utility district if we want to, and will make a presentation at the December 3rd meeting. If we do form a utility district, it would make us eligible for federal grants, which he thinks is a good idea if we need to redo the water.

Water Rights Attorneys: The Water Rights issues are important, in that recently an amendment was made to the existing law that extended water rights to all parts of the plat the association controls. This is so that we can drill wells within our boundaries in search of water and not be restricted to the area where the present water system is. We can also restrict construction so that we protect our watershed areas to maintain our water system.

The reverse scenario is that we continue as a "private" water system, as we have for the last 30 years, and use a manager to help us continue to run the system as we have. As it may become required to have a manager, perhaps this is the best alternative.

In summary, here are our alternatives:

1. Convert to a PUBLIC UTILITY SYSTEM and have them manage the system. This option makes us eligible for loans and grants to upgrade and replace our system if required.

2. Remain a PRIVATE SYSTEM and satisfy all the requirements by hiring a manager, with 2-3 people from the community as backup and resource people.

So, where do we go from here?

1. Terry Lenihan will make a presentation at the December 3rd board meeting

2. Get confirmation of condition of pipes. Prioritize the pipe segments that most urgently need replacement to least urgent.

3. Test the two large wells drilled in 1974. Activating these as reserve and tying them up with the pump house may be good insurance for the future.

4. Decide if we should replace those segments that have been problems and are the weak link in the system. These are the home supply pipes and the T junctions to the main AC pipes.

Respectfully submitted,

Shenton Oh