Working Around the Weather

Adept, Able, and Accomodating

As the rainy weather sets in, our dedicated crew from Pape and Sons, and our Coop Staff Representatives, are pivoting tasks to keep progress moving on our Capital Improvement. The large-scale excavation efforts we have seen on 238th and Burton Drive are simply not realistic when our region is experiencing even moderate rain. This may sound improbable to parents who have sat in all sorts of weather to watch their saturated children play sports, but in the case of excavation, the wet conditions could destabilize the earth that the crews are working in, and will certainly create a mudslide out of the earth that has been removed from our entrenchment, requiring continual removal of earth from the work site; this would add significant cost to the process. In order to stretch our budget, the best answer is to work around the weather. Our crews have offered to be flexible with their work days, looking ahead at the forecast, and scheduling the work that we can get done when weather permits. Ultimately, this will maximize what can get accomplished during the wet months ahead.

 

Currently working near Judd Creek Bridge. 

The Burton Water System has always had an awkward terminus at the Northernmost end of the system by Judd Creek Bridge: If you look at the Map, our existing lines are in orange with “+” at the line ends. One of the Requirements of our system is to provide adequate fire flow, and the current pipes along the Northern stretch of 107th, and Along the Highway where the system serves Tilicum Ln and 227th, are not up to Standard. Were we to simply replace these sections of pipe, Fire flow requirements would necessitate the Cooperative to install 8″ pipe into all these dead ends. A preferable alternative is to connect the system mains along 228th by BARC. This would allow us to use smaller, more affordable pipe and fittings, while actually supplying better fire flow for the entire area.

Due to the weather, excavating and installing this length of water main might appear to take longer, but as the work is conducted, the traffic will almost always be able to pass Judd Creek Bridge, similar to the traffic control experienced  during the crew’s work on the Highway by the Burton store, and should not create long-term convenience.

Construction Management and Supervision

During all construction activity either Nick Simmons or Morgan Berry (part of our Operations crew) are required to be on site to observe, coordinate, and problem solve. Our engineers, Northwest Water Systems, will be on call at all times and on site as needed.

Traffic Management

Our contractor, Pape and Sons, will have flaggers at construction sites to direct traffic. Please assist by traveling slowly and following their direction. Some of our scope of work will overlap with the King County Judd Creek bridge closure, so please adjust your travel times accordingly.

Service Disruption

Every attempt will be made to minimize service disruptions. However, there is no way to do this work and have none. For planned disruptions, the Co-op will give 24 hours notice by email. Please make sure we have a current email address for whoever in your household you want to be the contact person. For unexpected disruptions, the Co-op will send an email communication as soon as practical. When possible, a Co-op representative will go to the impacted properties. 

Emergency or Routine Contact Information

For general information about construction or for a non-urgent question, please contact the Co-op at info@burtonwater.org or 206-463-0005.

For an emergency or urgent matter, please contact our on-call personnel at 206-775-5667. 

This short term inconvenience will provide long term operational security for our entire community. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation during this critical investment in our water system infrastructure. Background information regarding this USDA-funded distribution pipe improvement project can be found on the Capital Improvement Plans page.