Covington Water Department

The latter half of 2017 and initial months of 2018 have been remarkably productive for our District. We've made significant progress on several initiatives and projects we've been analyzing in recent years. While we've achieved numerous key milestones (outlined below), we remain dedicated to continuously enhancing our services to balance developer needs with existing customer requirements.

Our staff members are highly qualified, skilled professionals. However, like many utilities, we haven't effectively communicated our story to the community. To address this gap, we're investing additional resources to strengthen our social media presence.

We embrace the daily challenge of delivering safe, reliable water 24/7/365 to our customers and are pleased to highlight several accomplishments from this review period:

Water Supply: Our ongoing partnership with King County Water Section #111 culminated in a wholesale water agreement. After finalizing terms to supply #111 with water, our District collaborated with their team to complete control improvements for the 288th Street intertie. Revenue collected per our 2017 contract totaled $270,500. This arrangement creates benefits for all districts and communities we serve.

Due to colder-than-average winter temperatures and normal precipitation levels, Tacoma Water has indicated the Regional Water Supply System (RWSS) should experience typical "run of the river" conditions. With normal summer forecasts, we're well-positioned to generate water revenue from our abundant supply. By year-end 2018, we should also generate power offsetting 74% of our PSE electric costs at the Administrative Campus once the new C-4 Tap and generator building is completed.

Security and Emergency Response: CWD has implemented substantial emergency response planning and preparation measures. We've followed up on the J100 Risk and Resiliency Study and finished the initial set of prioritized security improvements at our headquarters. We now maintain a $3.8M all-hazard/earthquake insurance rider for our distribution system covering "at-risk" water mains in critical areas should they fail during earthquakes or other natural disasters.

Financial Sustainability: We received a clean audit from the State Auditor's Office for fiscal year 2016. At the close of 2014, our cash reserves stood at $9.5M with a 51% debt ratio; currently, we've improved to $22.6M with our debt ratio reduced to 41%. The most significant impact: we haven't required a rate increase for the past two years.

The CDC provides valuable information about municipal water safety and potential health impacts of contaminants. Here are common questions about municipal water:

1. How often is municipal water tested for safety?
2. What health risks are associated with high levels of TTHMs?
3. How can residents protect themselves from water contaminants?
4. Are home water filters effective against the contaminants in Covington's water?
5. Should residents with compromised immune systems take additional precautions?

Regular water quality testing helps identify potential issues before they become serious health concerns. Covington residents should stay informed about their water quality through annual reports and official notifications.