Resources
Because drilling water wells usually means you're at the top of the chronilogical list of contractors involved with a project, we've amassed quite a bit of information regarding how to go about getting a home built. Hopefully the below links will be useful to you in your efforts to build your own home.
These links aren't ordered in any particular way, but it might be useful to understand how the system of laws works in the State. The State has adopted or made certain codes & laws, which the Counties adopt, usually modifying them to their own preferences. The State either contracts with the Counties to enforce the State & County laws, or they each enforce their own particular laws. So, what does that mean to you? Well, if you're building a home, you're going to need to conform to both State & County codes when it comes to building anything, however the County is usually the one who inspects. Of course, if you're living inside of a municipality, you'll be following the local City codes as well.
Real Estate Sales & Services
Barbara Orr with Executive Real Estate -- A number of years ago, we received a call from Barbara when she was selling a house in Monroe. Apparently the persons loan wasn't going to go through because of the well situation. So, Barbara took it upon herself to pay for the well! Lucky for her, it was shallow in an area where there are a lot of deep wells.
She ones of the hardest working real estate agents in the area, and is an example of integrity & ethics in the real estate field. Her website has all her contact information & available listings.
Sheri Winston with Real Estate -- Sheri is a neighbor of ours who we drilled a well for, prior to her entering the real estate field. She's always been a pleasant neighbor, upfront, and honest in our business dealings.
Jeff Amman with Amman Septic Designs -- Jeff provides quality septic design services for customers in both King &
Snohomish Counties. Located in Monroe, Jeff Amman of Amman Designs has been designing systems in this area for over 15
years. Like us, he's made a real point of creating good working relationships with the local building & health departments, and
his customers. Richard Whalen with Whalen Septic Designs -- Richard also provides quality septic design services to customers in both King
& Snohomish Counties. They've been a leader
in quality designs for over 20 years, and we often recommend both them and Amman
Designs for our customers, or anyone who asks. They've developed
and fostered good relationships with the local building & health
departments, and their customers.
for contact information.
Septic Designs & Installations
Pump Information
Gould's Pumps -- Gould's has been manufacturuing pumps longer than anyone has been alive. The products they produce are of a high quality material & a tried & true design, and have worked reliabily in our customers wells for the last 20 years. Additionally, Gould's recently entered the submersible motor market with their new Centripro Motor.
Flint and Walling -- Affectionately known as
Flint & Wobbly
, Flint & Walling has been a family owned pump manufacturer for over 150 years.
Though they recently merged with a seperate pump company, there product has remained high in quality & in reliability.
Flint & Walling is the brand we started installing from the very beginning, and we still prefer the use of F&W pumps
over anyone elses. They're a dedicated user of Franklin Electric submersible motors, which is in itself a sure sign of reliability.
Associations
The Washington State Ground Water Assocation (WSGWA) -- The Washington State Ground Water Association is dedicated to technical and professional leadership in the advancement of the drilling and ground water industry. It is the responsibility of the Association to educate its members and the public on the issue of ground water and its usage. The Association has three important goals:
- To protect access to ground water;
- Continually educate our members on the latest technologies used in the industry;
- To provide non-biased information on ground water to our legislators and the general public.
By continually educating the public and our members, we can protect the quality of this natural resource.
-- From the WSGWA web site.The National Ground Water Assocation (NGWA) and The Washington State Ground Water Association (WSGWA) have been working to protect the drilling industry and to safeguard the publics ground water supply for over a combined 130 years. National Ground Water Association - Washington State
Business Bureau (BBB) -- The Better Business Bureau has been serving the community for many years, principally by resolving disputes between consumers and producers, and by fostering a system of ethics in the business community.
OUR MISSION is to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education, and service excellence.
The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) system, which was founded in 1912 and is today supported by more than 300,000 local business members nationwide. It is dedicated to fostering fair and honest relationships between businesses and consumers, instilling consumer confidence and contributing to an ethical business environment.
The CBBB is supported by its membership consisting of nearly 300 leading-edge national corporations, and by Better Business Bureaus and branches in over 150 locations. The CBBB and all local Better Business Bureaus are private, non-profit organizations funded by membership dues and other support.
From the Better Business Bureau website.The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA) was founded in 1909 by a group of Seattle builders who saw a need to unite to address the many concerns and issues affecting the housing industry. They shared technology and jointly solved construction problems. They actively worked with government to develop laws that protected the environment while still providing attractive, affordable communities and homes for the families of the Puget Sound region.
From the Master Builders Assocation Web Site.Washington State Departments and Information
Washington State Department of Ecology regulates the Well Drilling industry in Washington State. Both Snohomish and King Counties have adopted the DOE standards for well construction. King County has added a great deal to the DOE's minimum standards, including making property owners record a covenant on their property for a 100 foot radius around their well.
- Department of Ecology - Well Construction and Licensing Page
- Check our Drill License from Department of Ecology: Click Here
- Department of Ecology - Guide to Drilling Your Own Well
- Department of Ecology Home Owner's Guide to Well Construction (PDF File Format)
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries regulates employers, workmen's compensation insurance, and employment laws in the State of Washington. If you're employing people in Washington State, LNI should know about it and have records. If you're contracting someone who employees people, you should definately check their record with LNI - if someone is cheating their employees or has a bad safety record, do you really want them working for you?
Additionally, according to the LNI website:Did you know......that under Washington State law*, you may be liable for the unpaid workers' compensation (industrial Insurance) premiums of any business you hire or contract with? (*See RCW 51.12.070)
Check any contractors records with LNI from this page.
Check our Employee Liability Certificate with Deparment of Labor & Industries:Click Here
King County Departments and Information
King County web site hosts a great deal of information. The Department of Health has a specific drinking water section that is useful for learning the different rules & regulations that King County has.
Snohomish County Departments and Information
Snohomish County has a wonderful site hosting all sorts of great information about property, local planning, politics, real estate, and county records. Additionally, the Snohomish County Department of Health has another web site hosting water well information & water quality reports.
