This year, Sammamish Plateau Water is celebrating 70 years of service to the community.
The story of Sammamish Plateau Water began in 1945, more than 50 years before the city of Sammamish was incorporated, when voters approved to establish a local water district. By 1948, King County Water District 82 was providing water service to 35 residents in the northwest corner of Pine Lake.
Today, Sammamish Plateau Water operates 12 wells, encompasses an area of 29 square miles, and provides water and sewer services to a population of approximately 64,000 people within Sammamish, Issaquah, and parts of unincorporated King County.
Two separate water distribution systems supply water and remove wastewater from two zones: the Cascade Zone, north of SR 202, and the Plateau Zone to the south of SR 202. In 2017, a combined total of more than 1.9 billion gallons of water flowed underground within the distribution systems through 299 miles of water pipes and 184 miles of sewer pipes.
Approximately 20 percent of the District’s water supply originates from the Tolt and Cedar River watersheds and comes through a regional water connection with Seattle Public Utilities. The District purchases this water through a membership with the Cascade Water Alliance.
Sammamish Plateau Water is governed by an elected five-member Board of Commissioners that sets policy, and provides direction to staff. The Board is comprised of District customers who represent residents and deliver on the District’s mission of being a leader in the planning and practice of fiscal and environmental stewardship. Board president Lloyd Warren says this year’s milestone anniversary serves as a testimonial to the many workers who have both built and continue to operate a best-in-class small utility.
“This is a great time to recognize the dedication of generations of Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District employees and leadership in planning for, constructing, maintaining, and ultimately replacing our complex water distribution systems that provide an essential resource for our customers,” Warren said.
Meeting future water and sewer needs
As stewards of a life-sustaining resource, Sammamish Plateau Water is committed to financial stability, effective governance, and the technological advancements needed to meet increased future water and sewer demands. With a focus on system sustainability, the District implements a robust program of detailed asset inventories, operations and maintenance processes, and long-range financial planning.
By balancing factors such as condition of assets, consequence of asset failure, and cost of replacement, District staff are able to prioritize the rehabilitation and replacement of assets. This proactive planning provides the best opportunity for financial savings, environmental protection, and the development of sustainable water and sewer infrastructure that will support future population growth.
For the past 70 years, Sammamish Plateau Water has provided a safe and reliable water supply that has supported the community from its early days at Pine Lake to the landscape of homes and businesses we know today. The District is committed to continually meeting the challenge of growth by providing advanced thinking and management practices to make sure that this fresh, clean, life-sustaining resource is protected and used wisely.
