Interested in wastewater management?

The Clinton Water District is looking for volunteers to form a task force to address wastewater issues in Clinton.

The proposed advisory committee will be named in April during the district’s regular meeting.

The group will study alternative methods of handling all types of wastewater, including storm runoff and sanitary sewer effluent. At present, Clinton has no sanitary sewer and no centralized storm runoff system.

The district’s commissioners are looking for volunteers to participate and assist in developing policies and guidelines for a comprehensive wastewater management plan.

Recently appointed water district commissioner Maury Hood said he hopes the committee will provide an opportunity to study alternatives to the centralized sewer systems discussed in recent water district meetings.

“The overall wastewater management plan will look at alternatives for waste disposal other than a central sewer system and will review current storm water runoff concerns,” Hood said.

New task force members will also study a comprehensive sewer plan currently being reviewed by the district.

“The comprehensive sewer plan is just one alternative,” Hood said. “We are not trying to close any doors and we want to hear different views and recommendations.”

Under the sewer plan, about two-thirds or 700 of the water district’s customers would be part of a sanitary sewer system if it is built.

“People want to know about alternatives to a sewer system,” Hood said. “If we have septic systems that work well, then we should let them alone.”

The number of people appointed to the task force has not been decided, Hood said it will be small enough to be effective and still have a variety of opinions. The task force will be advisory in nature.

Task force members will be named April 9 at the regular commissioners meeting at 7 p.m. at the district office. Service on the task force is estimated to last approximately six months. The body will disband after submitting recommendations to water district commissioners.

Those interested in applying should submit their names and brief resumes or outline of qualifications to Clinton Water District, P. O. Box 544, Clinton, WA 98236 or e-mail: cwd@whidbey.com by 5 p.m., April 5. For more information, call the district office at 341-5487.