Liberty Lake district seeks less water usage

Sat., March 19, 2005

By Melodie Little melodiel@spokesman.com

Liberty Lake sewer commissioners are getting serious about water conservation.

At a Wednesday meeting, Lee Mellish, district manager, explained that the governor has declared drought conditions and that district customers need to use less water.

A drought compounds the challenges the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District already faces in obtaining enough water rights to serve a construction boom and a growing population.

Mellish said the district is examining how other cities encourage citizens and businesses to use less water.

Some offer incentives in the form of rebates for companies and individuals that replace grass with landscaping that uses less water and/or fine property owners for watering the street and other careless behaviors.

“I think we need to be very aggressive. The water rights issue is real, and it’s not going away,” Mellish said.

Officials give joint meeting stamp of approval

Sewer commissioners formally responded to the city’s request for a joint meeting.

Saying it’s time to collaborate on water issues, Commissioner Harley Halverson commented that “one of the objectives should be to begin to speak with a common voice.”

Commissioner Frank Boyle said there were multiple areas where the two could collaborate but felt that the first meeting should be devoted to determining ground rules.

“I have no intention whatsoever of allowing the City Council to run the sewer district.”

The board suggested March 21, 22 and 29th as possible meeting dates.

Council members Dennis Paul and Patrick Jenkins were at the meeting.

Jenkins thanked the commissioners for moving forward, saying, “I certainly appreciate you expediting the process.”

Meetings will look at phosphorous ban

The district is planning several months of meetings to gather community input and support for a ban on dishwasher detergents containing phosphorous. Thirty years ago the district took a lead role in banning laundry detergent with phosphorous.

Phosphorous has been identified as contributing to water quality problems by fertilizing unwanted algae that eats up oxygen in rivers and lakes.

Commissioner Boyle recommended a dishwashing detergent made by Seventh Generation as being completely phosphate free.

Plant upgrade looking good

A mild winter has the sewer plant upgrade running four to five months ahead of schedule. If the trend continues, the plant, which costs $11 million to construct, could be finished in August and online by January. The district and other dischargers may receive a 15-year window to upgrade technology to further clean wastewater.

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