(360) 599-1801 Phone
(360) 599-9158 Fax
532 Sprague Valley Drive
Maple Falls, WA 98266
ABOUT YOUR SERVICE
SERVICE AREA
Whatcom County Water District #13 serves the communities of Peaceful Valley and and Maple Falls, Washington, including Balfour Village and Red Mountain, and the campus of the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center.
WATER SERVICE
Whatcom Water District No. 13 sources our water from a highly permeable aquifer that lies beneath the floor of the Columbia Valley.
Based on past hydrogeologic studies, the water in this shallow, unconfined aquifer moves quickly from north to south through the valley, offering an abundant supply of clean drinking water to District customers and others in the valley. Learn more about your water's quality below.
From the aquifer, your water is drawn up through 2 wells, pumped up to 2 reservoirs, and gravity-fed throughout our service area using a system of water mains (the large distribution pipes), service lines, valves, and meters. Our system also includes generators to make sure you have water service when the power goes out.
Connections Served:
417
WASTEWATER (Sewer) SERVICE
Your wastewater (sewage) collection system is comprised of a network of pipes, two pumping stations to convey sewage from your home to the treatment area, and a three lagoon-style treatment plant.
Pumping stations (also known as Lift Stations) are located on Green valley Drive and Sprague Valley Drive. Each is equipped with large underground receiving tanks to collect the wastewater, and an electric pump to lift the wastewater up into the sewer main (pipe) where it flows into our lagoons for treatment. Learn more about our treatment process below.
Connections Served:
414
WATER QUALITY & TESTING
Your water is tested monthly, quarterly, and annually to ensure it is free from microorganisms, such as e-coli and coliform. The water from the aquafer is pristine and requires no treatment processes.
We have 5 monitoring wells that we use for testing the groundwater around the wastewater drain fields to ensure they are working properly and there is no contamination of the groundwater.
Annual Water Quality / Consumer Confidence Reports:
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017
Learn More about Your Water Quality:
Washington State Department of Health
United States Environmental Protection Agency
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Your wastewater is treated using a series of three lagoons, which are pond-like basins of water designed to receive, hold, and treat wastewater for a predetermined period of time.
We use a series of three lagoons because multiple lagoons can often provide better quality treatment than one large lagoon: as the wastewater is moved from one lagoon to the next, more of the solid material, such as algae, has an opportunity to settle out before the effluent is disposed.
Treatment involves a combination of physical, biological, and chemical processes. Much of the treatment occurs naturally, but our system also uses aeration devices to add oxygen, which enables us to treat more wastewater, more efficiently, using less land area.
Where necessary, these lagoons are lined with material, such as clay or an artificial liner, to prevent leaks to the groundwater below.