Conservation of Water Resources

• Current Conservation Goals & Results The current conservation program was based on achieving the goals within a 5-year period. The goals set were as follows, reduce annual domestic demand per customer by 10 percent, reduce peak day demand per customer by 15 percent and achieve 10 percent or less of unaccounted for water. A. Reduce annual domestic demand per customer by 10% - From 1994 to 1998 Summit Water’s annual domestic demand per customer averaged 274 gallons per day (gpd). Since setting the new conservation goals in 1999, Summit Water has achieved an average annual domestic demand per customer of 243 gpd. This is a reduction of the annual domestic demand of approximately 11.3%, which exceeded the goal of 10 percent. B. Reduce peak day demand per customer by 15% - From 1994 to 1998 Summit Water’s peak day demand per customer averaged 703 gallons per day (gpd). Since setting the new conservation goals in 1999, Summit Water’s average peak day demand per customer is 625 gpd. This is a reduction of the peak day demand of approximately 11.1 percent. We continue to work towards achieving this goal. C. Achieve 10% or less of unaccounted for water - From 1994 to 1998 Summit Water had an unaccounted for water loss of 524,869,348 gallons or an average unaccounted for loss of 16.8 percent. Since setting this goal in 1999, Summit Water has had an unaccounted for water loss of 844,206,898 gallons or an average unaccounted for loss of 13.9 percent. Although we did not meet our goal of reducing unaccounted for water to 10% or less, we have on average over the last four years been able to reduce our unaccounted for water to 10.9%. We continue to work towards meeting the goal of 10% or less of unaccounted for water.

  	Company Background Summit Water & Supply Co. is a mutual-like corporation organized under Chapter 24 RCW.    The company was originally established in 1923 and incorporated 1936. Summit Water provides domestic, commercial and light industrial service to approximately 6700 customers in north central Pierce County.    The service area lies between the corporate boundaries of Tacoma and Puyallup and south of the Puyallup River to 128th St. E. Summit Water serves in the low alluvial plain of the river, along the valley escarpment, and on the upland plateau.    Most of Summit’s Water service area is designated “Rural Separator”, but there are several small areas of higher density and non-residential land use.    The company’s service area is fixed under the Pierce County Coordinated Water System Plan and Summit currently has no plans to expand its service area. Summit Water has entered into inter-local service area agreements as required by the Pierce County Coordinated Water System Plan.
  	Though nearly surrounded by urban areas, Summit Water’s service area is mostly designated as “Rural Separator” and excluded from Pierce County’s urban growth area. Much of the area is nearly rural in character with large lots and some agricultural uses. Higher density residential development is concentrated along the east side of Summit Water’s service area. Some multi-family residential is included in Summit Water’s mix (about 29%) and this has been the fastest growing class of customers. Non-residential development is found  in small centers, such as Summit Center near 112th St. & Canyon Rd. E., and along major arterial roads. The company also serves some trust lands of the Puyallup Nation, some of which are developed with residential and institutional uses.
  	Summit Water operates a gravity supply system with approximately 3,850 gallons per minute (gpm) of source capacity and two 1500 gpm booster pumps capable of supplying water when the gravity supply system is unable to meet the demand. Total storage volume is approximately 3 million gallons. There are five pressure zones required to maintain suitable pressures on the system. The principal pressure zone is at a hydraulic grade elevation of 595’. Additional pressure zones are located at 522’, 390’, 205’ and 125’. The lower pressure zones rely in part on supply provided through pressure reducing valves.
  	The water supply is entirely groundwater, from a total of nine wells at seven sites. All water sources are treated with chlorine for disinfection of the distribution system. Other water treatment includes the injection of caustic soda for pH adjustment to address corrosion control (copper levels).
  	Summit Water has water rights for a total of 3,800 gallons per minute, and 2,130 acre-feet or 694,015,770 gallons per year. Additional sources of water include emergency inter-ties with Fruitland Mutual (1), Tacoma City Water (3) and one inter-tie with Parkland Light & Water, which is used for wheeling wholesale water to the company from the Lakewood Water District. The current Summit/Lakewood wholesale agreement allows for the purchase of up to 2-million gallons per day. Summit Water and Lakewood Water have entered into preliminary discussion for the purchasing of an additional 1-million gallons per day.
  	In 1997, the Washington State Department of Ecology issued superseding certificates for all of Summit Water’s water rights that extended the place of use to include the areas served by other members of the Pierce County Water Cooperative. The purpose of this requested amendment to Summit’s water rights was to facilitate transfer of water between these systems to bring water that is available to areas where it is needed and could be put to beneficial use.
  	System Demand Characteristics An evaluation of Summit Water’s annual water production and customer census (table 1) from 1994 through 2007 revealed that the average daily demand varied year to year from 230 to 300 gallons per day (gpd) for all users, with the overall average being about 260 gpd. Also noted from this evaluation was that Summit Water’s peak day demand varied year to year from 540 gpd to 780 gpd, with an overall average of 660 gpd. The most recent peak day was measured by Summit Water’s production instruments on July 11, 2007. On this day, 4,202, 000 gallons of water were pumped from all available sources. Net change in tank volume for the day was measured at approximately 64,000 gallons. A total of 4,260,000 gallons was consumed by 6667 customer units. This resulted in an average of 640 gallons being produced for each customer unit on the peak day.
  	Proposed Growth The total number of legal recorded lots within Summit Water’s service area is estimated to be approximately 5,500. This estimate is made from map records obtained from the Pierce County Assessor’s office and information in Summit’s member files. Summit’s records show that there are currently 6667 users served by the water company. Commitments for service include 88 pending water availability certificates. These certificates are approved for an estimated 577 additional users. The high number of estimated users verses pending water certificates reflects the increasing multi-family and condominium development within the Summit area. Restrictions on further subdivision of land will determine whether and to what extent new lots are created. Most of Summit Water’s service area falls within the “Mid-County Community Plan” and is designated “Rural Separator”, which carries a 2.5 acre minimum restriction. Considering the restricted land uses and density, and the high proportion of lots of record already served, the company’s water system may be considered to be approaching the limits of growth. In order to estimate the future number of users, assumptions must be made for the number of users that arise from development of the remaining lots, and possible additions of users to lots already developed. The small areas of mixed and moderate density use within Summit’s service area may be developed by further subdivision of land. Lacking any specific data to predict the future rate of development, or the proportion of undevelopable land, it is estimated that together with the committed service to the current 6,667 users that an additional 1,100 users could be added by the year 2020. Projected Growth of Users Year 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2010 2015 2020 Class Residential 3879 4049 4175 4273 4263 4382 4393 4484 4497 4868 5111 5367 Multi-family 1785 1785 1821 1829 1909 1909 1909 1909 1909 1923 1995 2095 Small Commercial 113 117 118 118 120 122 124 125 128 130 136 143 Med/Large Commercial 79 83 87 87 90 92 95 97 97 98 102 106 Non-Potable/Irrigation 20 23 25 29 29 33 33 36 36 39 48 60 Total 5876 6057 6226 6336 6411 6538 6554 6651 6667 7058 7394 7772 % Increase In Users   2.99% 2.71% 1.74% 1.17% 1.94% 0.24% 1.46% 0.24% 5.87% 4.75% 5.11%

Webmaster: dtroupe@summitwater.org

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