Twenty years after SVA's founding, chlorides (seawater intrusion) started to affect water quality. Water usage in the winter was approximately 3,000 gallons per day and 9,000 gallons a day in June. Water restrictions and a building moratorium were implemented.

To augment the original well and reduce the risk of seawater intrusion, the board began looking for a site for a second well. In 1989, SVA obtained permission from a member to drill a new well on the property owner's land in exchange for two water shares. 

Camano Island was also growing. Island County ran a campaign inviting residents to suggest friendlier names for private streets and several SVA residents participated. The county subsequently renamed Vista One Street to Newell Road and Vista Two Street to Viewmont Place.

Conservation measures were still in effect and locking valves were installed on hookups. In 1990, Well 2 was installed at a cost of $32,995. Since both wells reside below sea level, conservation measures were permanently implemented.

As homes were built, maintaining the water system required more time and effort. To this day, most SVWA trustees remain volunteers. The board appointed a water system manager, who was paid $100 per month and hired a landscaper to maintain association grounds for $40 a month. Trustees established a relationship with Quality Water Care in 1992 to assist with testing for contaminants and other system issues. To cover ongoing maintenance and system improvements, the annual maintenance fee was raised to $100 per lot per year. 

Members voted to pay the secretary/treasurer $250 a month and increased the stipend to $350 two years later due to an "increase in duties."  Meters were slated to be installed for all built-out lots to better document usage. And the association was awarded tax exempt status in 1992. Members approved a water conservation program that limited outdoor watering to 1 hour every other day. 

SVA's water system was starting to show its age. In 1995, the Pump House roof was replaced and an extension was added for a new generator.

The county approved SVA for 70 connections. To better manage seawater intrusion for the two wells, a custom computer program was installed to automatically control the wells to pump only during low tides. (See story below.) Still, seawater intrusion remained a top concern and the board began searching for a third well site. Member Glenn Engel, who created the well-pumping program, offered a site on his lot and was issued a second water share in consideration. The Newells and another resident combined their two lots to return two water shares to the association.

In 1995, members approved a special assessment of $200 per lot for one year and $100 per lot for the next 8 years to fund the new well and cover growing maintenance costs. The modest hookup fee had gradually increased over time and the Board approved increasing it to $3,000. Well three became operational in 1996.

The Board created a capital improvement plan at an estimated cost of $63,000, with savings of $30,000 for engineering labor that resident Jerry Purdum volunteered. Water requirements had grown to the point that the board began planning for an additional, 60,000-gallon storage tank, which was constructed in 1997. The plan also included adding a third, fenced well, a shed for the riding mower,  improving the beach lot, rebuilding the hatch on the storage tank, piping for the new water tank, and volunteer work parties to clear brush around line easements. Members voted to implement monthly meter readings and a surcharge of 30 cents per 100 gallons for water usage in excess of 8,000 gallons a month per connection. 

By 1998, SVA had 61 metered connections, with 54 active. The association completed the 1995 Capital Improvement Plan and received state approval for 97 total connections. To ensure adequate water supply for a fully built-out community, the board created a new 20-year Capital Improvement Plan that included a fourth well and replacement of aging water mains on Newell Road and Viewmont Place. The hookup fee, which represented an important source of revenue, was raised to $5,000.

As SVA's infrastructure planning process matured, so, too did the process for ensuring the provision of safe drinking water. In 1999, SVA filed its first Consumer Confidence Report with Washington state's Department of Health. The annual report documents test results for various substances in our water and continues to this day. Jerry Purdum instituted procedures to isolate and repair leaks and worked with the State Department of Health to complete a Sanitary Survey. DOH cited SVA's system as "an exceptional example of implementing a Small Water System Management program." 

Water consumption in 1999 was approximately 8,000 gallons per day in the winter and 14,000 per day in the summer.  Neighboring Tillicum Beach and Camano Vista communities instituted building moratoriums due to high chloride levels in their water.  SVA revised its bylaws to include a water conservation measure and to update the procedure for membership certificate transfers. A second propane tank was added.

The bylaws were revised again in 2003. SVA's name was changed to Sierra Vista Water Association.

SVWA's aquifer remains at high risk of seawater intrusion and now that our system is nearly fully built out (one hook up remains), conservation is critical to ensure our safe water supply.

Recent meeting minutes are available online in our archives.