Upper Highlands Water Pressure Issue - 9/29/25 Update
Gary Bustinduy
Greetings:
Late yesterday afternoon, a meeting was held at the Kirkland City Hall with representatives of the City of Kirkland, as well as Mari Bercaw, Gary Bustinduy, Scott Stoneman, and myself. The four of us represented the residents of the Highlands Neighborhood.
Besides representatives from the Kirkland Public Works and Fire Departments, City Councilmembers Jon Pascal and John Tymczuszn were present, as were City Manager Kurt Triplett and Deputy City Managers Jim Lopez and Julie Underwood. Julie is now also the Interim Public Works Director. In addition, representatives of RH2 (the City’s Civil Engineering Consultant) were also present.
We briefly reviewed the decisions that were made which led up to the water pressure being reduced in the Upper Highlands by 30% in the Spring of 2024.
We also reviewed the recommendations that Scott Stoneman had made to the City Public Works Department and RH2 last October as to how the pressure could be restored, while still maintaining the increased water flow that the Fire Department is requiring.
RH2 is reviewing several options for how the pressure can be improved. While Scott’s solution is feasible, it would require that a new below grade vault with a pressure reducing valve (PRV) to be installed near the intersection of NE 87th & 116th Avenue NE. Because of the amount of existing underground utilities near that intersection, the new vault might have to be installed one or two blocks further north up 116th, with a new water line being required from the existing vault at 87th & 116th to the new PRV vault.
Besides this option, RH2 is also studying two other options. However, both of these options would require a separate Capitol Improvement Project (CIP) and would require several years to implement.
The three options and approximate costs/timelines are going to be presented to the City Council during a Working Session which starts at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, October 21st. Advance copies of the three proposals will be published on the City’s Website no later than Friday, October 17th. I will be out of town and will not be available to attend the meeting. However, you can contact Mari Bercaw (Highlands Neighborhood Association President) to request a link to the proposals. marib...@hotmail.com
I would encourage Upper Highlands Residents to attend the Working Session at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, October 21st to listen to the presentation by RH2 and the Public Works Department, and to then see what direction the City Council gives as to which proposal to proceed with. Then at 7:30 PM the regular City Council Meeting begins. You can register on-line or in person to speak during the “Open Mic” segment of that meeting for three minutes before the City Council and City Manager/Deputy Managers.
At yesterday’s meeting the Water Pressure Mitigation Program was also discussed. The City has opened the program so that more Upper Highland Residents who have been impacted can apply. However, due to laws that prevent a City from “Gifting” money to private citizens, the City is unable to remove the clause in the agreement that residents have to sign stating that by accepting the payment they have no further recourse against the City with regards to the water pressure issue. Even so, apparently a total of six residents have gone ahead and signed the agreement.
I informed the City officials that the vast majority of residents in the Upper Highlands want the City of Kirkland to fix the water pressure issue on the City’s side of the water meters, and not have to install water booster pumps in their homes.
I also told them that while 30 PSI is the minimum water pressure level as allowed by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), it is not acceptable to the residents of the Upper Highlands, as it represents a 30% reduction in water pressure at a vast number of residents. In addition, most residents I have talked with are not willing to install water booster pumps at their homes, nor sign the Water Pressure Mitigation Agreement and give up their rights to have the City restore the pressure.
I expressed the frustration that the Upper Highlands Neighborhood has with how the City has not responded in a timely manner to resolve this situation!!! The lack of urgency to get the pressure restored is also very disappointing.
As I told them, they are not the ones who have lived with this situation for the past 18 months!!!
Please put on your calendars to attend both the 5:30 and 7:30 meeting on October 21st at City Hall.
You can then witness in person how your City responds to a situation such as this….
Murray L. McKinney Sr.
9611 - 116th Ave. N.E.
Kirkland, WA 98033
Cell: (206) 390-5342