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Old 02-05-2009, 07:15 PM
 
Location: Duvall
4 posts, read 24,135 times
Reputation: 12

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We've been living in a house that the water is provided through a well. However, the well is dry and we've been without water 3 times already this winter. When we have had water, the source is rainwater which spills into a cistern. We spent alot of the summer months without water but we were told thats normal, that 3 months out of the year we need to conserve. now here we are, no water, yet surrounded by water with a large family. We've brought this to the attn of the owners man many times. they keep promising to have a new well dug, repair the pump, etc.I'm aware of the landlord tenant act and the laws. None of this information about no water was disclosed to us by the owner. its a long stroy.. first we were tenants, then becasem care-takers of the property, etc...either way, we should have water! we cant afford to move right now, does anyone have advice on who to contact? if you could see the set up here, many people have been out to the house, advized us that its unsanitary, the entire system is a "rookie" job...rats get into the pumphouse, etc...tired of being here!
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Old 02-05-2009, 09:44 PM
 
1,305 posts, read 2,753,241 times
Reputation: 238
Where are you located?

This is an easy one to correct. Having running water is a requirement for a certificate of occupancy. Not having water means the COO can be revoked and then your landlord will have to correct it.

Are you in unincorporated King County? If so, contact the King County DDES and report an issue. They will investigate and determine if the COO needs to be revoked. If they revoke it, you will need to move or the landlord correct the problem.
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Old 02-05-2009, 09:49 PM
 
Location: Land of 10000 Lakes +
5,554 posts, read 6,737,720 times
Reputation: 8575
I know public buildings have to be closed down if there is no water so there must some enforceable law for a residential building.
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Old 02-05-2009, 10:13 PM
 
Location: rain city
2,957 posts, read 12,720,858 times
Reputation: 4973
"the COO"
"King County DDES"

Could you decode these for us please?
Links? Phone numbers?

This lady needs help.
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Old 02-05-2009, 10:29 PM
 
1,305 posts, read 2,753,241 times
Reputation: 238
Quote:
Originally Posted by azoria View Post
"the COO"
"King County DDES"

Could you decode these for us please?
Links? Phone numbers?

This lady needs help.
Sure. A COO is a certificate of occupancy. (I spelled it out in the previous sentance.)

King County DDES is the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services. Do a search for King County DDES on the internet and that will bring you to their homepage. You can contact them or file a complaint online. I believe their website is at www.kingcounty.gov/permits. They give examples of code violations at http://www.kingcounty.gov/property/p.../examples.aspx and you can file a complaint at http://www.kingcounty.gov/property/p...ts/CEForm.aspx.

Call them first before filing a complaint, as complaining may end up in you moving.
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Old 02-06-2009, 04:04 PM
 
28,113 posts, read 63,642,682 times
Reputation: 23263
You may very well being forced to move... that's what happened to a casual acquaintance.

The well was low producing and called the county. The county inspector agreed... the problem was the owner was elderly and in no position to hire... let alone pay for a new well.

The only option was moving on short notice. At least it you won't have to deal with the inconvenience anymore.
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Old 02-08-2009, 08:13 PM
 
Location: Burlington Washington
100 posts, read 306,546 times
Reputation: 47
All you have to do is call the Health Department.
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Old 02-09-2009, 02:16 PM
 
Location: Duvall
4 posts, read 24,135 times
Reputation: 12
We're in Duvall. I called the DDES this morning and left a message to contact me. We're on Day 8 without water. Well enough today to flush the toilets a few times but thats only becuase we had a small % of precip over the weekend, which flows off the roof of the carport and dumps into a cistern.
The owners wanted to put this on the market last summer! would anyone buy a house without water?!?
Thanks for your suggestion, we feel almost invisible becuase the owners don't seem to care.

This is an easy one to correct. Having running water is a requirement for a certificate of occupancy. Not having water means the COO can be revoked and then your landlord will have to correct it.

Are you in unincorporated King County? If so, contact the King County DDES and report an issue. They will investigate and determine if the COO needs to be revoked. If they revoke it, you will need to move or the landlord correct the problem.[/quote]
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Old 02-11-2009, 04:55 PM
 
Location: Seattle, WA
2 posts, read 5,016 times
Reputation: 10
Unincorporated King Co. group (at least from the contractors end) tend to be rather good about helping people if you bug them enough too ... and if you're backed up by their department, you may be able to push for your basic needs (water being one), by gathering bids from local plumbers for what it may potentially take to fix the problem. The owners of the house may not be so keen to spend thousands of dollars right away, but at least you can have a solid idea of it will take for resolution!
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Old 02-13-2009, 10:15 AM
 
Location: Lowlands
271 posts, read 1,236,322 times
Reputation: 168
It will cost around $10k to install another well. But your system that uses rainwater is strange. Maybe you can get on city water?
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