Press Release: Water Reservoir Commissioning Event

Featuring U.S. Representative Rick Larsen

The Board of Commissioners of the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District welcome the public to celebrate the commissioning of two new water reservoirs that will serve the Sudden Valley community into the foreseeable future. The commissioning event will be held at 2:30 p.m. this Thursday, July 3rd, at the project site (3 Swallow Circle, Bellingham, WA) and feature U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, whose congressional earmark helped make construction of the new reservoirs possible. Other invitees include Washington State legislators of the 40th and 42nd districts, and officials representing the Washington State Public Works Board, Washington State Military Department, Whatcom County, South Whatcom Fire Authority, and the Sudden Valley Community Association.

The project replaces an existing 50+ year old reservoir with two new reservoirs that meet current seismic standards and are outfitted with a seismic-actuated valve connected to the ShakeAlert® earthquake early warning system. Funding for the $3.1 million project includes a Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) hazard mitigation grant, the aforementioned congressional earmark, Washington State Military Department Emergency Management Division funding, and a low interest loan through the Washington State Public Works Board.

“The District Board of Commissioners is excited to welcome our federal, state and local government partners in celebrating the commissioning of a critical new component to our drinking water system,” said District Board President Todd Citron. “Without their support, the addition of these reservoirs, which will add resiliency to and enhance operational flexibility within our water distribution system, would not have been possible.”