<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Gill Sans MT";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 2 1 4 2 2 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Book Antiqua";
panose-1:2 4 6 2 5 3 5 3 3 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Gotham Light";}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle22
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle23
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle24
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle26
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style="color:#1F497D">Eric: Your assessment is correct—homeowners associations, corporations where all the service connections are shareholders, etc., are not under the jurisdiction of the WUTC. Think of
it in terms of representation—if the water users have a vote in the corporation’s assessment of charges, no WUTC jurisdiction. If water users don’t have representation, WUTC jurisdiction provides consumer protections not otherwise available.
<o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black">Jamie M. Morin | Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#00253D">MENTOR</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT",sans-serif;color:#987023">LAW</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#00253D">GROUP</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#00253D">,
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT",sans-serif;color:#00253D">PLLC</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Gotham Light";color:#00253D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black">Phone (206) 838-7654 | Cell (206) 498-2381<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><a href="mailto:morin@mentorlaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black">morin@mentorlaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black">
| </span><a href="www.mentorlaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black">www.mentorlaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Nelsen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, October 14, 2015 1:27 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Property rights of private "public" water systems<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Thanks Jamie! I see under <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=480-110&full=true#480-110-255">
WAC 480-110-255</a>(2)(e) that WUTC jurisdiction does not include "mutual corporations or similar entities that provide service only to their owners or members." Rather its jurisdiction is over "investor-owned water companies." So that sounds like the jurisdiction
is essentially for private companies who own a water system? Most privately owned systems I am aware of are owned by the people who receive the water service, which seems to fall under the exception to jurisdiction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">
<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jamie Morin<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, October 14, 2015 12:57 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Property rights of private "public" water systems<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">If the corporate entity is a private corporation [as opposed to a municipal or quasi municipal corporation (city, county, special purpose dist) or homeowners association], the entity may still be regulated by
the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission with respect to its financial operation. WUTC jurisdiction kicks in at 100 customers or rates over $557 per customer per year. This is in addition to WDOH regulation for public health and safety under
the Safe Drinking Water Act; and WDOE regulation of water rights. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black">Jamie M. Morin | Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#00253D">MENTOR</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT",sans-serif;color:#987023">LAW</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#00253D">GROUP</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#00253D">,
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT",sans-serif;color:#00253D">PLLC</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Gotham Light";color:#00253D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black">Phone (206) 838-7654 | Cell (206) 498-2381<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><a href="mailto:morin@mentorlaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black">morin@mentorlaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black">
| </span><a href="www.mentorlaw.com"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black">www.mentorlaw.com</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">
wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Nelsen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 12, 2015 12:25 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Property rights of private "public" water systems<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Thanks John--Yes, I do know that they are often by private agreement/restrictive covenants. Which means as far as I can tell that it's essentially a private ordering of property and water rights, subject only
to DOH's health and safety concerns. Is that your experience? There's little in the way of state requirements for how fees are charged, how they're collected, penalties/suspending service for failure to pay, etc.?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">
<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>John M. Riley III<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 12, 2015 12:07 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Property rights of private "public" water systems<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Eric:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Here in eastern Washington a lot of them are by private agreement or via a set of restrictive covenants. Check with the WSDOH -- I bet they may be able to steer you to a project so you could contact the project
oversight persons/group to get copies of documents. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">John Riley<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="500" style="width:375.0pt">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">John M. Riley, III</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Principal | Witherspoon • Kelley<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:jmr@witherspoonkelley.com">jmr@witherspoonkelley.com</a> |
<a href="http://www.witherspoonkelley.com/john-riley-1">Attorney Profile</a> | <a href="http://www.witherspoonkelley.com/s/jmr.vcf">
vCard</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="375" style="width:281.25pt">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background:#17365D;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.witherspoonkelley.com"><span style="text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="106" height="82" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D10691.15300C30"></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="background:#17365D;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white">422 W. Riverside Ave, Ste 1100<br>
Spokane, WA 99201 <br>
(509) 624-5265 (office)<br>
(509) 458-2728 (fax)<br>
witherspoonkelley.com <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p><em><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray">Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this email and any accompanying attachment(s) is intended only for the use of the intended recipient and may be confidential
and/or privileged. If any reader of this communication is not the intended recipient, unauthorized use, disclosure or copying is strictly prohibited, and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender
by return email, and delete the original message and all copies from your system. Thank you.</span></em><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">
<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Nelsen<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 12, 2015 10:52 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property listserve (<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>)<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Property rights of private "public" water systems<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am trying to wrap my head around the general organizational types for water service to multiple properties. It looks to me like there are a few different types of governmental water service, all municipal corporations or direct operation
by a local government, either under County authority (RCW 36.94), or formation of a water-sewer district (Title 57 RCW), or annexation by a city (RCW 35.13A).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But am I right in thinking that a "Group A public water system" is by definition a private entity, and never a municipal corporation of any kind? Of course the water service is regulated
<u>for health purposes</u> by either the state or a County Department of Health, but it seems to me that the private ownership of the water system can be organized in virtually any fashion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Are there statutory or regulatory restrictions (or case law) on a private water system's authority to charge fees, assess penalties, accumulate reserves, etc.? Imposing due process requirements, equal treatment, etc.?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If there is a reference resource that I can use to look at this kind of information, please I'd love to find it. Thanks!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>