Many residents are surprised to learn that Thurston County Public Works provides water and sewer utilities to some residents. Between 1970 and 1990, a few private utilities were unable to meet standards in water quality and supply for their communities. Additionally, failing septic systems near the Puget Sound called for intervention. Thurston County began providing services to Olympic View (sewer only), Tamoshan, Boston Harbor, and later Grand Mound. Currently, the county provides drinking water and sewer services to roughly 800 residents and numerous businesses! 

Meet the Team 

Though the Water and Sewer Utilities team is small, they routinely amaze us with their progress and drive to serve their communities.  

The team has eight members: an Engineering & Operations Manager, a Utility Planner, a Utilities Operations Supervisor, and five Utilities staff Operators. The Engineering and Operations Manager, Joe Plahuta, oversees the utilities and manages the capital program to keep the systems updated and in compliance with regulatory requirements. The Utility Planner, Aaron Tormanen, reviews development proposals, updates planning documents to project changes to service areas or growth, and reviews water system plans. The Utilities Operations Supervisor, Kevin Patching, oversees utility operations. Five Utilities Operators, including Vern Prell, Dennis Baker, Dan Smith, Steven Cserfoi, and Tim Fries, keep the systems up and running, ensuring customers receive reliable services. They adjust equipment, take lab samples of discharge to confirm standards are met, and maintain the facility. Due to the nature of these services, employees provide service 24 hours per day and 365 days out of the year.

Service Areas  

Olympic View was transferred to Thurston County’s ownership in the 1970s. The previously existing sewer system was leaking sewage into the Sound, among other issues. The county constructed improvements to target contamination and continues to remain responsible for operations, maintenance, and repair of the facilities. This system serves 28 residences by directing waste through individual STEP tanks to a common drain field on County-owned property. 

Tamoshan became Thurston County’s responsibility in the mid to late 1970s, shortly after development. The utility system provides water and sewer services to the Tamoshan subdivision and sewer services to the Beverly Beach subdivision. Combined, there are a total of 94 water connections and 115 sewer connections in this area. The county has faced challenges in meeting standards for disinfection byproducts with this system. In the near future, a new well will be installed to address these issues.  

Boston Harbor came under county ownership in the 1980s after a private organization failed to meet water standards. Since then, the system has undergone improvements, including the addition of new source wells, a storage reservoir, and an expanded distribution network. There are around 280 connections to this service area, most of which are residential. Following transfer to county ownership, a sewer collection and treatment system was constructed. This sewer system is comprised of individual, septic tank effluent tanks (STEP) that pump to a wastewater treatment plant before discharge. 

Grand Mound is one of the newer water and sewer systems managed by Thurston County. Since its establishment in the late-1990s, it has continued to grow, prompting construction of the south lift station, biosolids improvements at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), and the construction of a second water reservoir. A total of 425 customers are served in the Grand Mound area. This system is the largest managed by the county and continues to expand as growth continues in the Grand Mound Urban.  

To learn more about the systems managed by Thurston County, visit the Water and Utilities page here. 

Despite the unique challenges each system presents, staff shows dedication and drive to serve Thurston County. Thank you, Water and Sewer Utilities team, for all the progress you’ve made and the excellence you continue to deliver!