Utilities

New Ferndale City Well to be Activated

New Ferndale City Well to be Activated

In the coming weeks, the new City Well will begin supplying groundwater to the Ferndale water system. This well, drilled in 2017, taps a fresh aquifer located over a 1,000 feet below the surface and will provide approximately a quarter of the City’s water supply.

The new well is completed in a separate aquifer than the current supply and will result in some changes to the taste of City water. There are many factors that influence the flavor of City water, not the least of which is your own personal preferences. No matter the taste, the City will ensure the water is safe and reliable.

The City is currently designing the expansion the Water Treatment Plant which is scheduled to be completed in 2021. When that project is completed, the well will provide a larger percentage of the City’s water.

“As we enter the summer months, I am thrilled to see this vital resource come online for the City,” said Mayor Greg Hansen. “That said, water is still a precious resource and we need everyone to practice good conservation this summer.”

For more details on the new city well and ideas on how to conserve water, see www.cityofferndale.org/water

Diagram illustrating the new well, identified as “Shop Well #2”
May 22, 2020

Background on the New Ferndale Well

The City is gearing up to activate a new well and integrate that water into our water supply. In the next couple of weeks, the City will share more information about what that means for our community. In the meantime, here’s a video the City released last year that provides some background about the new well and water treatment plant.

May 20, 2020

April Utility Bill Includes an Adjustment for Calculation Error

The city regrets to inform the public that there was a calculation error in the last billing cycle (Feb. 28th) that affected approximately 2,500 residential customers. It did not apply the correct average to the sewer charge which resulted in some bills being higher and some bills being lower in the Feb. 28th billing cycle. To fix that, this cycle’s bill includes an adjustment, either a credit or an additional charge, to fix that mistake.

But the bigger mistake was not including an explanation in the bills of this adjustment. That is on us, the City, and we apologize. The last couple of months have been hectic but that is no excuse, the public deserves the best from their local government and again, we apologize for not communicating about this adjustment.

Beyond that, bills are slightly higher than last year. The City conducted a rate study all last year to rebalance our utility bills and secure funding for our needed utility projects (the new deep well head and expanding the wastewater and water treatment plants). More information about that process is available here. As a result, the average household bill increased by approximately $30 per cycle. If a customer uses more than the average household’s worth of water, it may have been a higher increase.

It is worth remembering that with so many residents staying home this last cycle, usage may be up slightly.

That said, obviously, if residents have questions about their specific bill or think we made an error, please don’t hesitate to call our utility clerk, Jeanna, at 360-384-4269 or utilitybilling@cityofferndale.org. We can take a look at your specific case and see if it all adds up.

Finally, we understand that this is a difficult time with so many Ferndale residents being unable to work due to COVID-19. As a result, we have suspended shutoffs and late fees for the Feb and April billing cycles. We encourage folks who have not been impacted to continue to keep up with their bill but for those who have, please take the time needed.

Thank you.

May 5, 2020

City Solicits Feedback on Stormwater Management Plan

The City of Ferndale updates the Stormwater Management Plan as a response to specific special conditions within the “Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit” that authorizes the City of Ferndale to discharge stormwater to the waters of the State of Washington.

Per the Permit, this program summary will be updated each year and will be available to the public. Participation and comments are welcome and may be directed to City of Ferndale Stormwater staff stormwater@cityofferndale.org. Comment period begins March 1st, 2020 and ends March 31, 2020.

The draft plan can be found by clicking here or on our “What is Stormwater” page.

March 11, 2020

Crew Continues Smoke Test of Sewer Lines this week

  • Tues. Nov. 19
  • Weds. Nov 20th
  • Thurs. Nov 21st
  • Fri. Nov. 22nd

Public Works crews are set to smoke test sanitary sewer lines this week in the neighborhoods identified above.

 These tests help the City identify how and where water (and other material) enters and leaves our sewer system, allowing us to locate defective connections and spots in need of repairs.

During smoke testing, field crews blow air and smoke into the sewer system from the street and then monitor where it comes out. The smoke under pressure will fill the main line as well as any connections and then follow the path of any leak to the ground surface, quickly revealing the source of the problem.

For instance, if smoke permeates up through a yard, it indicates breaks in the sewer line. The smoke is gently pushed to overcome atmospheric pressure and  should escape from building roof vents.

The smoke itself is actually not smoke, but a non-toxic, non-staining odorless vapor.

Smoke testing is a harmless, cost-effective way to identify areas of our sewer system that need improvement.

Below are some common questions and answers about this testing, if you have any further questions, please call the Public Works Department at (360) 384-4006.

November 18, 2019

City Weighs Options for More Equitable Utility Rate Structure

City Weighs Options for More Equitable Utility Rate Structure

Click the picture above to access more information on the rate study

On Monday, Oct. 7th at 6pm in the City Annex (5694 Second Avenue), the City Council will be reviewing options for adjusting the utility rates.

Earlier this year, the City hired FCS Group to study our rate structure and provide recommendations on how to fund future capital projects while maintaining a fair structure for all ratepayers. This meeting, they will be presenting their findings and the options available to the council going forward.

The public is encouraged to attend and share their input on the best way to provide for the future of our utility system. More information about the rate study, including their presentation on revenue requirements in August and the materials for their presentation on Monday, is available on the city website here: www.cityofferndale.org/ratestudy

October 3, 2019

Residents Save Over 8.9 Million Gallons of Water this Summer

Residents Save Over 8.9 Million Gallons of Water this Summer

This summer, thanks to conservation efforts by the people of Ferndale, the city as a whole saved more than 8.9 million gallons of water from being used as compared to last year. Water usage for July and August was the lowest water usage in the last six years.

A combination of the mandatory watering restrictions, outreach to the community and individual conservation efforts resulted in easing the load on the local aquifer, saving wear and tear on the city’s utility system, helping to reduce or prolong some capitol improvements and lower water bills for residents.

“While we are working to secure our new well and expand our water treatment plant, we appreciate everyone doing their part to conserve this summer,” said Public Works Director Kevin Renz. “Letting your lawn mature to gold each year really does have a big impact.”

The mandatory watering restrictions expire on Sunday, Sept. 15th. With the temperatures dropping and the fall rainy weather arriving, residents are welcome to use water how they see fit; however conservation can have a big impact on an individual utility bill, and being attentive to water us helps further conserve this resource. For more ideas on how to conserve water, go to www.cityofferndale.org/water.

September 12, 2019

City Waives Late Fees, Shutoffs for August 2018 Bill

City Waives Late Fees, Shutoffs for August 2018 Bill

In light of the higher utility bills during the summer, the City is waiving late fees and suspending water shutoffs for the August 2018 bill. This means that utility customers have additional time to get caught up on their bill, if needed. Normal late fees and shutoffs will resume with the October 31st bill, which is due the middle of November.

The City appreciates the impact an unexpectedly high bill can have on a tight family budget and hopes that this one-time extended grace period will allow Ferndale residents the flexibility they need to adjust. The City urges residents not to use this as an opportunity to fall behind but rather to catch up and stay current with their utility bill.

For more information or for details on a specific utility bill, please call our utility clerk at (360) 384-4269 or email her by clicking here.

October 2, 2018