Northshore Utility District

Commercial facilities, including industrial, restaurant, and medical facilities must protect against other cross-connection hazards. Clean, safe water is designed to flow from the main into homes. In unusual instances, this normal direction of flow is reversed, resulting in "backflow." In a backflow situation, water that has contacted chemicals or other hazards can enter the drinking water system through cross-connections in homes or commercial buildings. If you have one of these cross connections that poses a potential hazard to the drinking water supply, state and federal law require you to install a backflow prevention device on your connected system.

There are a number of neighborhoods within our District that are served by long private water service lines (aka "spaghetti lines") located in private roads. The ownership, repair and replacement of these long private water lines, and the rehabilitation of the private roads, is the responsibility of the property owners. The District has initiated a new program that may provide some of our customers with relief from the cost and inconvenience of owning and maintaining the long private water service lines in the private roads.

No, the WA State Administrative Code 246-290-490 requiring protection of public drinking water has been in effect for many years. If you are just learning of the requirements, it means a recent District audit or other circumstance added your previously-unknown system to our records. Like any other mechanical device, over time a backflow unit may fail. To ensure it is working properly to protect home and public drinking water systems, the law mandates an annual test. As long as an irrigation system is connected to the drinking water system - the potential for cross-contamination exists - the state law requires the annual test.

Many companies offer backflow assembly testing services and repair-including plumbing, irrigation, mechanical, fire sprinkler contractors as well as specialty backflow testing companies. NUD does not recommend nor endorse any specific company or tester over another. This randomly-ordered list merely shows companies who have submitted tests and certification information to our office. You may wish to call more than one company to compare services and costs. We recommend getting more than one bid.

Connection costs for new water and sewer service (including the new Capacity Expansion Connection Charge (CECC) for the Totem Lake neighborhood) are outlined in the Single Family Sewer / Water Connection Cost Information sheet. Availability certificates are required by the building permit authority, and provide the opportunity for the District to review the proposed development project and inform the applicant of water and sewer connection conditions. Please complete the highlighted portions only of the appropriate form(s) listed below, and submit completed form(s) with full payment and a property site plan, which shows the improvements you plan to make to your property.

F.O.G. products poured into the drain, through the dishwasher or the garbage disposal will harden and cause sewer clogs-like this one! Hot water or a dishwasher might melt the grease and push it further down the drain. But it will only solidify again once it cools. Chemicals that claim to dissolve grease will only temporarily push the grease down the line, affecting neighboring lines. No one wants the heavy cost and mess of sewer backups! Clogged sewer pipes will eventually cause sewer backups in your home and neighborhood.

Northshore's drinking water (purchased from Seattle Public Utilities) consistently meets or exceeds strict regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). These regulations limit contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The annual Drinking Water Quality Report shows exactly how your tap water tested for specific compounds. It also outlines the daily steps we take to make sure it stays safe and clean. If you have questions about water quality, please call or email our Water Quality Office at (425) 398-4419, waterquality@nud.net.

In late 2015, the City of Kirkland adopted new land-use and zoning provisions for the Totem Lake "Urban Center." The revised zoning provisions will allow for much higher densities of development, including mixed-use - a combination of commercial and multi-family residential housing. These land-use decisions are driven by the Washington State Growth Management Act, which requires cities to provide adequate capacity for growth over a specific planning period. Results from the Kirkland rezone are already being realized, with the Totem Lake Mall demolition and proposal for approximately 1,000 multi-family housing residences as well as office space, retail grocery, and restaurants to be constructed as the "Totem Lake Village."

Northshore Utility District ("District") is a special-purpose district that provides sanitary sewer and water service to all of Kenmore and parts of Lake Forest Park, Bothell and Kirkland. This portion of the website is intended to assist residents, developers, engineers and contractors in bringing sanitary sewer or water service to properties throughout the District. A Developer Extension Agreement is required for any development activity that requires an extension of main line water or sewer utility.

We provide water and sewer service to over 24,000 rate payers. The District encompasses almost 19 square miles at the northeast corner of Lake Washington, providing services to residents in the areas of Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Juanita, Woodinville, Totem Lake, Kingsgate, Finn Hill and north Kirkland.

Northshore Utility District's drinking water source does not contain lead. However, lead can leach into water from plumbing materials, such as lead-based solder and brass fixtures. Homes or buildings that were built or re-plumbed with copper pipes and lead-based solder prior to 1985 are considered "higher risk." Northshore Utility District is launching a pilot program to provide free lead tests for homes considered at-risk for higher lead levels (homes built prior to 1985). The complimentary test performed with field equipment by District staff is considered informational only; results are not certified at the level of a water testing lab.

The Operations Department performs the operation, maintenance, inspection and repair of the District's existing water and sewer systems, including all related support services. We're here to make sure you have the needed help when water or sewer emergencies occur. The following information and links will help you better understand the water and sewer services provided by the District. Maintaining the life of your infrastructure.