A dried-up water system east of Marysville is one of only two small systems statewide to draw fines for failing to meet state certification requirements, a state official said Wednesday.
State law since 2001 requires the owner of a water system with 15 to 100 connections to become a certified system operator, or to hire one, said Richard Sarver, a manager of water system support at the state Department of Health.
There are about 1,900 water systems in that category statewide, and 250 in Snohomish County, officials said. State and Island County officials couldn’t say how many of those systems are in Island County.
Most owners of small water systems have complied with the requirements, Sarver said. In many cases, homeowner associations or PUDs operate water systems.
The state has offered free training for system owners to obtain certification using a federal grant, Sarver said.
There are still some owners operating without a certified water system operator, Sarver said. But the state has issued a fine for only two: $3,600 for the Lake Cassidy Estates water system east of Marysville, and $6,480 for the Bridle Trails South system in King County.
The Lake Cassidy system failed last weekend, leaving 25 homes without water.
In spite of the recent hot weather, no other similar incidents have been reported in Snohomish County, said Suzanne Pate, a public information officer of the Snohomish Health District.
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