Kapowsin Water District Receivership

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The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Tacoma Pierce County Health Department share responsibility for ensuring safe and reliable drinking water. When a water system fails to do this and has exhausted all reasonable outlets for returning to compliance, DOH may request the court to appoint a receiver to operate the water system. 
 
Pierce County was appointed to be the
receiver of the Kapowsin Water District (KWD) on Nov. 29, 2017 after a failed water transmission line required the trucking of water to the 40 residential customers of the water system while repairs were made. 

Pierce County's goal is to provide the Kapowsin Water District customers with safe and reliable drinking water. Currently, Pierce County is pursuing a new well as a long-term potable water source.

Receivership Updates

  1. 2022
  2. 2021
  3. 2020
  4. 2019
  5. 2018

Dec. 9

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Pierce County submitted a jointly prepared Plan for Disposition (Plan) and appeared before the Pierce County Superior Court. The Plan details five elements that must be met to end the receivership and return the system, including management and operations, back to the Kapowsin Water District Board of Commissioners. The Plan was approved at the court hearing, allowing DOH and Pierce County to start implementing the following elements:

  • Governance: Put forth new board members. This task was completed when Chris Craig was appointed to Commissioner Position #1 on Oct. 25, 2022.
  • Certified Operator: Retain a qualified and certified operator under contract for at least one year and identify a back-up operator. 
  • Small Water System Management Program: Update the 2012 Small Water System Management Program and seek DOH approval. 
  • Operations: Pierce County will coordinate with Valley Water District to transfer operational duties to Kapowsin Water District.    
  • Financial: Pierce County will coordinate the transfer of all billing and financial information to Kapowsin Water District. DOH will coordinate with Small Communities Initiative to explore future financial options.

The Kapowsin Water District Board of Commissioners is planning to hold a community meeting in early 2023 to discuss the details of the Plan and the path forward to end the receivership. Meeting details will be shared with the community once they have been determined. 

Nov. 18
The Washington State Department of Health and Pierce County were scheduled to appear before the Pierce County Superior Court. The judge rescheduled the review hearing to Dec. 9, 2022.   

Oct. 27
Washington State Department of Health (DOH) regulations require periodic sanitary survey inspections on drinking water systems to identify conditions that may present a sanitary or public health risk. A sanitary survey includes reviewing the water system facilities and the operation’s practices and standards. The state drinking water rules require all Group A public drinking water systems to have a routine sanitary survey once every three to five years. The Kapowsin Water District water system received its DOH Sanitary Survey on Oct. 27. 

The survey resulted in the following findings:

  • Install a sump pump in the treatment plant valve vault. [Completed]
  • Repair and test the backflow assembly. [Completed]
  • Repair the raw water flow meter. [Ongoing]

Aug. 26
The Washington State Department of Health and Pierce County appeared before the Pierce County Superior Court at the court review hearing. The hearing resulted in a continuance to Nov. 18, 2022.

Aug. 25
A service line break was reported along Browne Road by multiple customers late in the evening. Valley Water District was informed of the leak and was on site next morning. Crews isolated the leak, completed repairs, and water service was restored at 11:30 a.m.  The leak originated from a shallow and thin-walled poly tubing, approximately 12-inches deep. No boiled water advisory was required. Washington State Department of Health – Office of Drinking Water was notified of the water line break. 

Feb. 25
The Washington State Department of Health and Pierce County submit status report to the Pierce County Superior Court at the court review hearing. The hearing resulted in a continuance to April 1, 2022.

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