||| FROM SARA PELFREY |||
This article (https://kingcountywtd.com/
Our Water/Wastewater Operators are essential utility workers for our communities, just as our Linemen, First Responders, Teachers, and Medical Professionals. They deserve the utmost respect and compensation.
Per Washington State law, there is an operator on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, regardless of weather, holiday, or natural disasters. Currently, EWUA operators are required to be on call with no compensation, which is not the industry standard, and are only paid if they get called out to the field.
Let’s support EWUA Water Operators by showing up to the upcoming Board meeting and start asking the Board and GM why?
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When King County recently published a story about a wastewater operator who kept an entire treatment plant running during a historic atmospheric river, it reminded many of us just how essential water and wastewater operators are. These workers stand alongside linemen, first responders, teachers, and medical professionals as the people who keep our communities functioning during the worst conditions.
Here on the island, that responsibility — when it comes to drinking water and fire flow — falls in part, on EWUA’s operators. And because EWUA is a DOH approved Satellite Management Agency (SMA), it carries public responsibilities that go far beyond those of a typical private utility. SMAs are expected to maintain the technical, managerial, and financial capacity to ensure safe, reliable drinking water at all times.
The Law Is Clear: Operators Must Be Available 24/7/365
Washington State requires every public water system to always have a certified operator available — nights, weekends, holidays, and during natural disasters. This is a legal requirement, not a suggestion.
But here’s the concern:
EWUA currently requires operators to be on call without compensation.
They are only paid if they are physically called out to the field.
This is where EWUA’s practices diverge from the rest of the industry.
What’s Standard in Washington’s Water Sector
Across Washington, it is standard practice for water systems to compensate operators for required on call duty. Standby coverage is treated as real work because operators must:
• Restrict their personal time
• Stay within a response radius
• Avoid alcohol
• Keep a phone or radio on them
• Be ready to respond immediately
Utilities — whether municipal, district, private, or SMA run — typically provide:
• A daily or weekly on call stipend
• Standby pay
• Guaranteed minimum hours
• Higher rates for call outs
EWUA’s current approach is an outlier. Unpaid mandatory on call duty is not aligned with industry norms, labor expectations, or the level of responsibility operators carry.
Why This Matters for Everyone on the Island
When operators are on call, they sacrifice:
• Evenings
• Weekends
• Holidays
• Travel
• Personal freedom
They are the first line of defense when:
• A main breaks
• A pump fails
• A tank drops
• A storm knocks out power
• A fire requires hydrant pressure
• A contamination event occurs
If operators are stretched thin or undervalued, the entire community is at risk.
A Governance Issue, Not Just a Staffing Issue
As an SMA, EWUA’s Board is responsible for ensuring:
• Regulatory compliance
• Emergency readiness
• Adequate staffing
• Fair labor practices
• Safe and reliable operations
If operators are required to provide 24/7 coverage without compensation, the Board must explain:
• How this supports emergency preparedness
• How this aligns with industry standards
• How this meets DOH expectations for SMA capacity
• How EWUA plans to retain qualified operators
These are reasonable questions for members to ask.
It’s Time for the Community to Engage
The upcoming EWUA Board meeting is an opportunity for members to show up and ask:
• Why is on call duty unpaid?
• How does this support operator retention and safety?
• How does this align with Washington’s water industry standards?
• What is the Board’s plan to correct this?
This isn’t about blame. It’s about ensuring our essential workers are treated fairly — and that our water system(s) remains safe, reliable, and resilient.
Our Operators Deserve Respect — and Fair Compensation
The King County story showed us what water operators do when the world turns upside down. They show up. They keep systems running. They protect public health. They safeguard fire protection. They respond when no one else can.
EWUA’s operators deserve the same respect and support.
Let’s show up. Let’s ask questions. Let’s advocate for the people who keep our water flowing.