The federal and state governments have added requirements one after another to all water systems, making maintenance complicated and expensive, said Derek Pell, an assistant regional manager of the Northwest office of drinking water of the state Department of Health.
Systems with fewer than 100 connections such as Rimrock near Monroe are facing challenges to keep up with those regulations.
The fewer customers a system has, the more updating the system costs each customer. Larger systems often operated by municipal agencies can spread out the financial burden over many customers and usually have more maintenance staff.
The state provides training programs and financial help for owners of small water systems, Pell said.
Nonetheless, some small water systems are failing.
In July, a water system east of Marysville dried up and left about 25 homes at Lake Cassidy Estates without water for about a week.
The state has fined Dan Hodgen, the system’s owner, $3,600, for failing to be a certified operator, said Richard Sarver, a manager of water system support at the health department.
Hodgen couldn’t be reached for comment.
The state hasn’t collected the fine, Sarver said, because some people started drilling their own wells.
“There’s not going to be a system” at Lake Cassidy, he said.
Asked what will happen to those who can’t afford a well, Pell said that Hodgen has yet to report what the customers will do to try and get water, so their status remains unknown to state health officials.
“It’s hard to help someone who doesn’t identify themselves,” he said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
