Water Use Efficiency Rule
The Water Use Efficiency (WUE) Rule went into effect
in January 2007. The rule requires municipal water systems, including
Treasure Island, to implement a water use efficiency program. There
will be some changes to our water system — the rule mandates water
meters at each connection and evaluation of a rate structure that
encourages water use efficiency. The rule also requires that we
forecast water demand, meet a water system leakage standard, and set
conservation goals through a public process.
Annual WUE Report
New The
annual WUE performance report for the Treasure Island Water System is
available on the Department of Health web site:
(7/7/11)
WUE Goals
The water
system's WUE goals have been approved by the Board and were set in a public meeting
held on May 21, 2011, at the Grapeview Fire Hall:
(6/7/11)
 | Goal: Install service meters by 2017. |
| Goal: As service meters are installed, work with
customers to identify and repair customer leaks. |
| Goal: Reduce peak month production by 1 percent
per service connection by 2017. |
| WUE Goals
Details |
WUE Committee Reports to the Board
Supreme Court Ruling on
Municipal Water Law
On October 28, 2010, the Supreme Court ruled
unanimously that the 2003 Municipal Water Law is constitutional. This
means:
| In overturning the 2008 decision, the Court ruled
that all of the challenged sections of the Municipal Water Law are
valid. In particular, the Court upheld sections of the law that
define "municipal water supply suppliers" as public and private
water utilities that serve 15 or more residential connections. |
| Under the lower (King County) court ruling,
privately owned utilities were exempted from the benefits and
obligations of the Municipal Water Law. The Supreme Court's ruling
means these utilities now have more flexibility with their water
rights, but they also will be required to do more with water
conservation by complying with the state's water use efficiency
requirements. (11/9/10) |
The full text of the decision of the Washington
State Supreme Court can be read
here.
Water Use Efficiency Committee
Update
Treasure Island is once again considered a Municipal
Water supplier, and we must meet the requirements of the Water Use
Efficiency Rule. The Treasure Island Country Club Water Use Efficiency
Committee (WUE Committee) is meeting to determine where we are in
regards to complying with the WUE rule. The Department of Health has
provided a
flyer
that explains some of the requirements in a Question and Answer
format. (11/9/10)
Daryl K Axelson
WUE Committee Chairman
Municipal Water Case Set for Oral Argument
The Municipal Water Law case is set for oral
argument on January 12th, 2010, in the courtroom of the Temple of
Justice, Olympia, WA. This case pertains to the Water Use Efficiency
Rule. For more information see the Ecology website:
(12/17/09)
Water Use Efficiency Committee
(Excerpt
from January 2009 TICC Newsletter Article) As related at the 2008
TICC annual meeting, under the Water Use Efficiency Rule implemented
by the Washington State Department of Health, the Treasure Island
water system (classified as Group A – serving between 25 and 3000
population) is required to install meters to all existing connections
by 2017, and install water meters to new connections immediately. You
may have heard or read about a court ruling relieving small, private
water systems from that requirement, and the pending appeal which may
overturn the ruling and reinstate the requirement.
Since we don’t know what will happen with the court
proceeding, the committee set up to comply with the WUE rule continues
to gather information on meter systems and pricing from suppliers. No
bids will be solicited for construction unless the ruling is
overturned and it again becomes a mandate for us.
For more information, see the following from the DOH
Office of Drinking Water
legal challenges
web page:
The Water Use Efficiency Committee is chaired by
Daryl Axelson. If you have comments or questions, contact him at
treasureisland44@yahoo.com. (2/12/09)
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