Samish Farms Water Association
Since 1952
Samish Farms Water Association was formed in 1952 by a group of farmers and residents who faced a communal need for water on Samish Island and the surrounding flats. The Public Utility District of Skagit County advised the organizing group that the PUD was unable to extend water mains to provide service to the area.
The orginal system improvements, constructed in 1952, consisted of a 47,000 gallon reservoir at Point William, and a domestic water distribution system with over 69,000 feet of pipeline on Samish Island and the adjoining Samish Flats. The 79 members of SFWA contributed $20,540, and the Farmers Home Administration granted a $100,000 loan. This was the largest loan of this type to ever be handled in the area.
In 1952, a contract was entered into with Skagit County Public Utility District #1 of Mt. Vernon, to provide SFWA with water. The project was completed in 1954 and was operating satisfactorily. The total cost of the orginal system was $109,377.97. The system had grown from 70 members to 86 members by the completion date. By 1957, membership had increased to 99 members.
In 1958, an additional $10,000 was borrowed for repairs to the system. The type of repairs is not certain, however they were most likely replacement of tar coated steel pipeline, as leaks in this type of pipe developed quickly.
In 1978, 1979 and 1989, SFWA updated the system with over 20,400 linear feet of eight inch diameter pipeline and two 63,000 gallon concrete reservoirs, located on Halloran Road at the current SFWA office. Farmers Home Administration provided the loans for $70,000 and $202,900.
In 1986, SFWA entered into a contract with Skagit County to provide water service to twenty-three homes and businesses in the vicinity of the Inman Landfill. In 1993, SFWA entered into a new contract with Skagit County to provide water service to an increasing number of homes and businesses in the Hillwood Branch service area. During the spring of 1996, the Samish Farms Water Association took on the task of replacing approximately 13,000 linear feet of existing four-inch diameter water pipe with new eight-inch diameter pipe. This waterline replacement commenced at the Samish Island Pump Station, located on Samish Island Road within the Samish Flats and continued northwesterly to the intersection of Samish Island Road and Roney Road on Samish Island.
System improvements commenced again in 2001 and were completed early 2002 with installation of approximately 4,555 linear feet of six-inch diamter water pipe, approximately 20,850 linear feet of eight-inch water pipe, the retirement of both existing water storage facilities on Samish Island and the construction of a new 750,000 gallon water storage tank at the Point William site. These improvements were designed to meet peak flow demands at the time of maximum future buildout on Samish Island as well as fire flow requirements.
Currently, the SFWA distribution system contains two main branches, the Hillwood Branch and the Samish Branch. Each has seperate pumping, distribution and storage requirements and facilities. Both share the same supply source from Skagit County Public Utility District, supplying nearly 500 members.
*history information from SFWA archives and Samish Island History by Susan and Fred Miller
The orginal system improvements, constructed in 1952, consisted of a 47,000 gallon reservoir at Point William, and a domestic water distribution system with over 69,000 feet of pipeline on Samish Island and the adjoining Samish Flats. The 79 members of SFWA contributed $20,540, and the Farmers Home Administration granted a $100,000 loan. This was the largest loan of this type to ever be handled in the area.
In 1952, a contract was entered into with Skagit County Public Utility District #1 of Mt. Vernon, to provide SFWA with water. The project was completed in 1954 and was operating satisfactorily. The total cost of the orginal system was $109,377.97. The system had grown from 70 members to 86 members by the completion date. By 1957, membership had increased to 99 members.
In 1958, an additional $10,000 was borrowed for repairs to the system. The type of repairs is not certain, however they were most likely replacement of tar coated steel pipeline, as leaks in this type of pipe developed quickly.
In 1978, 1979 and 1989, SFWA updated the system with over 20,400 linear feet of eight inch diameter pipeline and two 63,000 gallon concrete reservoirs, located on Halloran Road at the current SFWA office. Farmers Home Administration provided the loans for $70,000 and $202,900.
In 1986, SFWA entered into a contract with Skagit County to provide water service to twenty-three homes and businesses in the vicinity of the Inman Landfill. In 1993, SFWA entered into a new contract with Skagit County to provide water service to an increasing number of homes and businesses in the Hillwood Branch service area. During the spring of 1996, the Samish Farms Water Association took on the task of replacing approximately 13,000 linear feet of existing four-inch diameter water pipe with new eight-inch diameter pipe. This waterline replacement commenced at the Samish Island Pump Station, located on Samish Island Road within the Samish Flats and continued northwesterly to the intersection of Samish Island Road and Roney Road on Samish Island.
System improvements commenced again in 2001 and were completed early 2002 with installation of approximately 4,555 linear feet of six-inch diamter water pipe, approximately 20,850 linear feet of eight-inch water pipe, the retirement of both existing water storage facilities on Samish Island and the construction of a new 750,000 gallon water storage tank at the Point William site. These improvements were designed to meet peak flow demands at the time of maximum future buildout on Samish Island as well as fire flow requirements.
Currently, the SFWA distribution system contains two main branches, the Hillwood Branch and the Samish Branch. Each has seperate pumping, distribution and storage requirements and facilities. Both share the same supply source from Skagit County Public Utility District, supplying nearly 500 members.
*history information from SFWA archives and Samish Island History by Susan and Fred Miller