(1) Federal and State Laws/Regulations.

(2) Electrical Utilities. During the 1940’s, the City of Forks received some electrical power from a locally owned diesel generator. It was not until the mid-1950’s that a transmission line was built to serve the western end of Clallam County. The Public Utilities District No. 1 of Clallam County (District) has been serving the FUGA since then.

The current source of electrical power supplied to the FUGA is from purchases from the Bonne-ville Power Administration (BPA). Electricity is primarily generated from hydroelectrical facilities located along the Columbia River. The power is then delivered through the regional and local transmission system.

There are various facilities located throughout the County and the City (Map 15). According to the electrical utility, there is ample capacity to meet existing demand for the FUGA over the next twenty (20) years. While there currently are no construction plans for the utility’s expansion, the District has a longstanding history of designing and constructing new facilities as required for any new customers. The development of future facilities will be discussed in CCC 31.07.260.

The District’s electrical facilities of less than 69,000 volts (69 kV) are generally referred to as distribution facilities. Facilities of 69,000 volts (69 kV) or more are generally referred to as transmission facilities. The FUGA is serviced by four (4) “distribution” substation facilities located in the area designated as “industrial” on the land use maps in the northern section of the FUGA; at a site on the north side of Calawah Way near the intersection with 5th Avenue NE; and two (2) substations located near the corners of “E” Street SW and 5th Avenue SW. The FUGA is fully served by these substations with distribution lines that extend service to all residential, commercial, and public customers. The District’s 69 kV transmission lines serve the four (4) distribution substations for the FUGA.

Of significant note is the District’s aggressive conservation program that provides funding to customers for cost-effective energy improvements. Such improvements include the addition of insulation, energy-efficient windows, lighting, and heating units.

(3) Telecommunication Utilities.

(4) Water. The ability to provide water via the City of Forks’ water supply system was a critical factor in determining the urban growth area. Prior to 1953, the Forks Prairie was provided with water by the Forks Water Company. This private company obtained water by extraction from Elk Creek. In 1953, the Town of Forks took over the water supply responsibilities. Currently, the City of Forks services all areas within the FUGA.

The FUGA is supplied water through the use of five (5) wells. These five (5) wells are associated with two (2) fields, yet are believed to be supplied by the same aquifer. All of these wells were installed prior to 1980. Waters from these wells are chlorinated and fluoridated, and have continually met or exceeded State and federal water purity standards. The working capacity available to the FUGA is 1,445 gallons per minute. As shown in Table 12, the City’s water supply system is operating at sixty (60) percent capacity. Currently, there is discussion about locating another aquifer in the area near the industrial park that could be used to augment the current system as both residential and industrial demands increase.

Water from these wells is stored in three (3) water tank reservoirs. Two (2) of these three (3) reservoirs, totaling 900,000 gallons, are over twenty-five (25) years old, while the 1,000,000 gallon reservoir is sixteen (16) years old. Recent inspection of the reservoirs has revealed some signs of corrosion, and there is discussion of possibly replacing one of the older reservoirs all together. Sufficient land is available for this expansion.

The current water supply system consists of over twenty-one (21) miles of pipeline, and is illustrated on Map 16. This map is a part of the 1988 City of Forks Comprehensive Water System Plan Update. Since this map was drawn, the City of Forks has extended a ten (10) inch water main out running along SR 101 to the Forks Industrial Park site.

(5) Sewer. Prior to 1985, all houses in the FUGA operated sewer disposal systems through the use of septic tanks. In 1973 and 1977, efforts to create a utility district for the purpose of creating a sewer treatment plant were defeated. However, in 1985, a utility district was created in a smaller section of the FUGA centered around the downtown area. This was prompted by the 1982 State ban of new on-site septic systems. The District through grants and levies commissioned the building of a sewer treatment facility that began operation in 1986.

The $3,800,000 facility design was somewhat controversial because it treats sewage in a process usually reserved for areas with fifteen (15) to twenty (20) inches of rain annually. The facility utilizes a system of “rapid infiltration” through use of a large lagoon to aerate the wastewater and eight (8) earthen basins to absorb the treated effluent into the ground. The system incorporates some unusual and innovative features that include: long-term extended aeration treatment; single sludge nitrification/denitrification; rapid infiltration of wastewater effluent; and permanent on-site land application of waste sludge to second growth timber. Since its operation of the facility, the City of Forks has received numerous awards.

However, looking twenty (20) years into the future as required by the Growth Management Act, the current system will require expansion. As seen in Table 12, the system is currently operating at forty (40) percent of capacity. Only small number of homes and buildings are serviced by the treatment facility, and significant portions of the City of Forks are not connected to the system.

The area designated as open space – limited access to the west and southwest of the current facility is the area designated by the City for future expansion of the system. Future expansion would require the citizens in the unserviced areas to form a utility district, and the City would need to obtain additional outside agency funds. However, the land needs have been addressed by this plan and are reflected in the land use element of the Comprehensive Plan.

The table below provides a summary of the current usage of each utility service within the area of the FUGA.