Water System Overview
Facilities
The District operates over 450 miles of buried water mains ranging in size from 1” to 30” in diameter along with 1,250 hydrants and 4,700 valves that are located either in public rights of way or within waterline & utility easements. Additionally, we operate and maintain 8 treated water tanks, 13 pump stations, 2 water treatment plants, 1 hydroelectric facility, multiple pressure reducing stations and multiple reservoirs that all serve a purpose in providing water to District customers through more than 7,650 water meters.
Redundancy and Resiliency
To help ensure service to our customers in emergency and unforeseen situations we have worked to provide backups to our systems. We have redundant pumps in our pump stations and multiple waterlines leaving our treatment plants. Both treatment plants are now configured so that either one can provide indoor water demand to our customers year round. We have also worked with neighboring communities to build interconnects with their water systems so that in the event of an emergency we are able to assist each other by moving water between our water distribution networks.
Security
The District takes protection of the water we supply seriously. To that end we have installed security fences, signage, cameras and alarms to protect physical infrastructure. We have also enacted measures to protect vital software and control systems. If you see anyone tampering with District facilities or any suspicious activity at our sites please contact the District Office immediately.
Easements
Although every effort has been made to utilize public rights of way and District-owned property, in certain cases utility easements have been platted within private property. If the title work on your property shows a water pipeline or utility easement, please be aware that there is an underground water line or other utilities installed within the easement. It is important that this water line is accessible to the District in case of a line break, or for routine maintenance.
Homeowners who have utility easements crossing their properties have a legal obligation to prevent encroachment into the easement with either constructed improvements or landscape plantings which will interfere with the maintenance and potential replacement of District facilities. It is the policy of the District to protect the territorial integrity of its water line easements. In the event it is discovered that a property owner has allowed encroachment into a utility easement, the District will inform the owner of such encroachment. Failure of the home owner to remove the encroachment will result in the owner being held liable for the cost of the removal, and in the event of a delay in making the necessary repairs, the home owner can be held liable for the cost associated with the delay. Please check with the District before planning structures, fencing or extensive landscaping near or in an easement. If you have any questions concerning fencing or plantings within a utility easement contact the District Office. Always call 811 before you dig anywhere on your property.
Pressure
Water pressure in most District mains ranges from around 40 psi to 150 psi. Pressures outside this normal operating range do occur, variations are based on a number of factors, including line size and elevation. Line pressure will also fluctuate throughout the day as water usage varies. Summer pressures are generally lower than winter pressures, due to the added demand of lawn irrigation. In addition, average main line pressures in an area may, over time, increase or decrease through the normal course of development of the water distribution system.
The District recommends that all customers install an adequate pressure-regulating device in their home to protect their household plumbing from high pressure. The District also recommends that irrigation sprinkler systems be designed to operate off the regulated household system, so they will not be affected by existing or future variations in main line pressure. The customer’s private service line, from the meter pit to the house, should be capable of withstanding mainline pressures of up to 200 psi.
Meter pits installed prior to June 1992 may have a pressure regulator in the pit. The District will remove the regulator if requested in writing by the tap owner. Contact the main office by phone or email for a standard form required to have the pressure regulator removed or adjusted.
In areas where mainline pressures are lower than 60 psi a private booster pump system bought, installed and maintained by the property owner may be an option. Please contact the Engineering department to discuss whether this option is suitable for your situation. There are specific standards for the design and installation of a booster pump to protect your home that must first be approved by the District.
