Issaquah has abandoned plans to inject polluted storm water from the Issaquah Highlands into the ground above an aquifer, which is also near a well used by the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District to provide water to its customers.

After nine hours of mediation Jan. 13, parties including Issaquah, Sammamish, the district and the state Department of Ecology agreed that the Lower Reid Infiltration Gallery (LRIG) will be decommissioned this year. As part of the agreement, the district will pay Issaquah $1 million toward the decommissioning and to assist in building a new storm water management system that will not connect to the aquifer.

“I can confirm that the district and the city signed a memorandum of agreement that would resolve issues regarding the LRIG and assumption,” said Jay Krauss, general manager of district.

The issue has been contentious because Issaquah has also been considering assuming water and sewer services provided by the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District to customers within it’s borders since at least 2011. Issaquah had cited its “expertise, knowledge and the skills — and a bigger picture focus on land use and need than the district does.”

“While there are varying viewpoints on this issue, we agree to focus our resources on quality service and not litigation,” said Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler.

Krauss agreed, saying that it is important for the two units of government to work together rather than pursue separate courses that are independent of one another.

The agreement requires the parties to negotiate an interlocal agreement. A draft will be prepared no later than Feb. 18, with final action expected by March 17.

If Issaquah determines that it still wants to assume areas the district serves in the city within the next 10 years, it would only do so with the district’s consent. Within three years, the city and the district, along with Sammamish, will discuss governance and delivery options for utility services.

Issaquah further agreed not to re-commission the LRIG or inject or infiltrate storm water at the LRIG without written approval from the district. Issaquah also agreed to withdraw its application to the DOE for state waste discharge permit within 10 days of the execution of the interlocal agreement.

Additionally, the district will remove the link to its website, www.letstalkaboutwater.org.