Where to Direct Water Complaints | Water Testing Sign-Up

Providing safe and healthy drinking water to residents of the Scott Lake Community is of the utmost importance. All water quality related complaints reported to the office are taken seriously and are logged and tracked.

It has come to our attention that a number of residents are sharing their water quality concerns on various community group Facebook pages rather than reporting them to the office. All questions, concerns, and complaints should be submitted to the Scott Lake Maintenance Company office so that we can follow-up directly.

On Wednesday, May 19, 2021 our local contractor will be onsite to take water samples from service locations where residents have submitted concerns that their water is unsafe or undrinkable. You will not need to be home in order to have a sample taken as the sample will be taken from an outside faucet. You will simply need to report to the office between Tuesday, May 11th – Monday, May 17th that you wish to have a sample taken from your service location. Requests for this water sampling can be submitted by email to office@scottlake.net or by calling (360) 352-4787.

Scott Lake drinking water is tested regularly in accordance with Department of Health regulations. Lab results from Department of Health required testing can be found through the Sentry Internet on the Department of Health website at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/eh/portal/odw/si/Intro.aspx

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires that a Water Quality Report be made on an annual basis. The Scott Lake 2020 Water Quality Report can be found on our website at the following link Scott-Lake-2020.pdf (scottlake.net)

Aesthetic characteristics may be present in your drinking water but do not typically pose a public health threat. Learn more about color, taste and odor problems in drinking water through a publication made by the Department of Health “Color, taste and odor problems in drinking water“

Please note: There are no failed tests or any other indicators that Scott Lake drinking water is unsafe or unhealthy. This service is being provided as a courtesy to those customers who believe that there may be an issue with their drinking water.

2021 Water Rate & Reserve Study Presentation – FAQ

A special meeting of the SLMC membership was held on Saturday, April 10, 2021 serving as an opportunity to provide additional detail on the recently completed 2021 Water Rate & Reserve Study and subsequent changes in the water rate structure. If you were unable to attend the meeting but would like to view a copy of the presentation slide deck that can be accessed through the following link.

A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet was also developed to help address some common questions received relating to the 2021 Water Rate & Reserve Study. Check out the FAQ here.

If you have additional questions, please contact the Scott Lake Maintenance Company office office@scottlake.net or (360) 352-4787

SCOTT LAKE SHARING TABLE

The Scott Lake Sharing Table located at the Community Center is an excellent community resource that many of our residents enjoy. It is a great way for neighbors to share with each other when they have garden produce or plant material in abundance.

We would like to remind community members that the Scott Lake Sharing Table is for garden produce and plant material only. If you place items on the table, it is your responsibility to ensure that items are picked up or removed within 48 hours.

Scott Lake Maintenance Company recognizes that the generosity of community members expands far beyond the garden produce and plant material allowed on the Scott Lake Sharing Table. We encourage you to reach out to other groups in the area that can more appropriately accommodate a variety of items, or to share through posts in the various Scott Lake Community group pages such as Scott Lake Community Family Support Group, Scott Lake Community Page, and Scott Lake Open Forum

Some of the other local resource groups include:

Buy Nothing Tumwater (South) Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/2095644687114370/

Thurston County Food Bank at Littlerock United Methodist https://thurstoncountyfoodbank.org/

Thurston County Medical Equipment Bank https://medicalequipmentbank.org/about/

United Way of Thurston County https://www.unitedway-thurston.org/

Property Owner Information form

Please return the Property Owner Information form recently mailed to you.

We are working hard to improve the emergency and non-emergency notification process for all property owners and residents in Scott Lake. The information you provide is critical to the success of this effort.

If you have misplaced your Property Owner Information form, please contact the Scott Lake Maintenance Company office immediately. The office number is 360-352-4787 or email to smaint8812@comcast.net. Another form can be downloaded from here or is available for your pick up or it can be mailed to you.

Thank you to all who have returned their property owner information.

We can’t make a plan and move forward without this information and your quick response is very much appreciated.

Scott Lake Board of Trustees

Don’t Forget to Flush… Your Hot Water Heater

HotWaterHeaterFlushing your water heater is an important maintenance step to ensure you get the most out of your water heater.  By keeping your water heater clean from sediment buildup, you help ensure the maximum life is reached from this important home appliance.

To help you flush your water heater properly, please refer to the instructions below, provided by Paul Robischon, Manager of Washington Water Service.

How to Flush Your Water Heater

CAUTION: When flushing your water heater there is danger of being scalded.  Be careful and keep children and pets away during the procedure.

Water heater manufacturers recommend flushing sediment from your storage type water heater periodically.  How often your model needs to be flushed depends upon the quality of the water in your area.  Areas with high mineral content will have to flush more often.

What is sediment, and why is it a problem?  The sediment is sand or other grit from a well, or any other material that has gotten into the municipal water mains.  Sediment can also come into your home after the water company flushes out their lines.

Over time, your heater can accumulate this sediment consisting of sand, gravel, grit, and various mineral deposits.  This buildup can reduce the amount your water heater holds, create a variety of interesting noises, and reduce the efficiency of your unit.  The buildup of sediment at the bottom can harden and sometimes clog the drain valve.

Cleaning this sediment out of your water heater is not particularly difficult; here is how to do it.

  1. If your water heater is gas, set the gas valve to “Pilot” to prevent the burners from coming on while you are flushing it.  If your heater is electric, be sure to turn off the circuit breakers.  With an electric water heater, if the water level drops below the heating elements, and the thermostat turns the elements on, the heating elements will probably burn out quite rapidly.
  2. Connect a heavy-duty garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank.  Make sure the outlet of the hose is in a safe area away from pets and children.  It can be very hot and can scald quickly.
  3. Close the shut off valve on the cold inlet to the water heater.
  4. Carefully open the temperature/pressure relief valve at the top of the tank by lifting the lever.  Leave the valve open.
  5. Open the drain valve at the bottom of the heater allowing the water to flow out through the garden hose.  If the sediment is clogging the drain valve then try closing the temperature/pressure relief valve and turn the cold inlet valve back on to “power flush” the sediment out.
  6. In some cases, the sediment hardens into large chunks that can block the drain valve.  If so, then wait until everything cools down, remove the garden hose from the drain valve, remove the valve if necessary, and use a long screw driver to break up the clog.  This is a very messy procedure.  Once completed, re-attach the hose and continue flushing.
  7. Drain the tank completely.  With the drain valve still open, close the pressure relief valve and turn the cold water inlet valve back on. This will scour the bottom of the tank and flush the sediment out.  Flush the tank until the water runs clear.  When the garden hose runs clear, you are finished.
  8. Close the drain valve at the bottom of the tank and remove the garden hose.
  9. Close the pressure relief valve at the top of the tank if it is still open, and turn the cold inlet valve back on.
  10. Open a hot water faucet in your house, and let it run until no air bubbles come out.
  11. Turn the heater back on, and with gas units re-light the pilot if necessary.

Washington Water Service