Lake Stevens Sewer District
recognized at State Conference

The Washington Association of Sewer and Water Districts presented Darwin Smith, General Manager of Lake Stevens Sewer District, with an Award of Special Recognition for Continued Leadership and Association support.

The Association is comprised of over 175 water and sewer districts throughout the State of Washington, dedicated to improving the professionalism of the industry. The member districts and associates work together to serve as an advocate on issues of regulation and policy and to provide continuing education that promote the efficiency and professional management of districts. The Association and members serve on numerous State and Federal committees and task forces.
Colleagues and other community members nominated Smith for his hard work and ability to unite the Sewer District and the City of Lake Stevens.

“Darwin is a phenomenal man who lives and breathes passion into his District,” Tonya Christoffersen, Deputy Manager of Administration said. “The ratepayers in Lake Stevens are so fortunate to have a leader like Darwin leading them into the future of clean water and impeccable consideration of the environment.”

From 1967 to the year 2000, the citizens of the City of Lake Stevens and the members of the Lake Stevens Sewer District acted independently regarding sewer service and thereby did not achieve equal benefit to all those being served. Around 1998, the District and the City engaged once more in discussions because of capacity issues.  These discussions exposed significant upcoming economic impacts to the citizens of the area, especially City sewer customers.

Accordingly, more targeted discussions started in 2002 and progressed into early 2005 cumulating in a new unified sewer system contract between the City of Lake Stevens and The Lake Stevens Sewer District.
This melding of rate bases streamlined day-to-day operations and due to increased economies of scales provided for more economic stability and equity.

Not only were economic pressures of service and capital expenses improved, but we now have a unified community not only in sewer service but future visioning of the total UGA. 

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