A couple of weeks ago I got a very poorly-worded letter from Eastsound Water Users Association about outbuildings on my property that might have a toilet or sink that I have not reported to EWUA. To me the letter said:  “ We know you are out there and we know you are crooks and we’re going to catch you and we’re going to make you pay and pay.” I wouldn’t be surprised to find Paul Kamin peeking in my windows or the windows of my out buildings to see if I have an illegal toilet hidden somewhere.

At best, it’s a terribly-worded regulation. For example, if you have ever parked an RV or travel trailer on your property, even if you never connected it to the water system, you must pay this fee. This is true even if no one has ever lived in it; just parking it on your property is enough to incur this fee.

Does it really make any difference how many buildings on my property have toilets?  Will my wife and I use more water if we have 17 toilets than if we have one? Of course not. The real issue should be how much water we use, not whether we use the water to flush toilets or wash dishes.  If  EWUA needs the information for planning purposes, make it about the information you need. Don’t threaten me with thousands of dollars in fees.

It’s EWUA’s fault that we are in this situation. So grandfather the toilets and move forward. There are more important things for EWUA to do than peek in our windows looking for toilets.

When the Eastsound Water and Sewer District has faced difficult issues with their customers,  they sat down with the them and found a solution that worked for both parties.

To the EWUA board: Accept some responsibility for this problem. Don’t decree from on high.  Take a lesson from the sewer district and sit down with the people who are affected and come up with a solution that works for everyone.

Doug Bechtel

Orcas Island