What Lake Stevens Sewer District does

Lake Stevens Sewer District is a Special Purpose District organized under RCW Title 57 in the State of Washington, providing sanitary sewer collection and treatment services to approximately 15,231 customer accounts across the Lake Stevens Urban Growth Area (UGA) in Snohomish County, USA. Formed in 1957 and operational since 1965, the district operates 145.46 miles of collection pipeline, 12 miles of interceptor, and 33 lift stations, treating wastewater at the Sunnyside Wastewater Treatment Plant, which opened in 2013 using Membrane BioReactor (MBR) technology with UV disinfection. The plant has a design capacity of 5.01 MGD (maximum month flow) and produces effluent below 2 mg/L BOD, 1 mg/L TSS, and 1 coliform colony/100 mL. The district also deploys Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) trenchless rehabilitation, extending pipe life by 50-70 years, and captures methane from anaerobic digestion as a plant energy source.

The district generates revenue primarily through flat monthly sewer service charges of $120 per residential unit (effective January 2026, up from $99/month), supplemented by commercial consumption-based billing ($120 base plus $0.200 per cubic foot over 600 CF), one-time General Facility Charges of $13,500 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) for new connections, side sewer permit fees, and pretreatment program fees for food service and industrial users. The City of Lake Stevens imposes a pass-through sewer utility tax (3% in 2025, rising to 6% in January 2026). Capital investment since 2005 exceeds $110 million, financed in large part by approximately $120 million in debt tied to the 2013 Sunnyside WWTP construction. Service delivery is exclusively direct via the physical utility grid within the franchise area; there are no third-party distribution channels.

The customer base is segmented across single-family residences, multi-family dwellings, commercial businesses (including hotels, motels, and schools), food service establishments subject to FOG pretreatment, and Significant Industrial Users regulated under 40 CFR Part 403. The district operates within an exclusive franchise service area established through the 2005 Unified Sewer Agreement with the City of Lake Stevens, which sets a contractual 2033 merger date. Following litigation initiated in 2021, the district prevailed in Snohomish County Superior Court in June 2025, with the city filing appeal in July 2025. Governance rests with a three-member elected Board of Commissioners; the General Manager is Mariah Low.

Name

Lake Stevens Sewer District

Legal name

Lake Stevens Sewer District

Website

https://lkstevenssewer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lake Stevens Sewer District is a Washington State Special Purpose District providing sanitary sewer collection and treatment to approximately 15,231 customers across the Lake Stevens Urban Growth Area, operating 145 miles of pipe, 33 lift stations, and a 5.01 MGD Membrane BioReactor wastewater treatment plant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Wastewater Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Utilities (221)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Gravity Sewer Collection Networks (Sanitary Sewers) (EUANACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sewer Pump/Lift Stations & Wet Wells (EUANACAC), Sewer Inspection, Condition Assessment & Monitoring (CCTV, Sensors) (EUANACAG), Sewer Line Cleaning & Root Removal (HSAOABAC), Emergency Response & Sewer Repair (Blockages, Collapses) (EUANACAL)

Keywords

• Wastewater treatment services
• Sewer collection systems
• Municipal sewer utility
• Wastewater infrastructure
• Sewer district operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Stevens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Monthly Sewer Service Charges: Flat monthly sewer service charges billed to residential and commercial customers. Residential charges applied on the 1st of each month, past due after the 25th. The rate is $120.00 per unit for single family residences and multi-family units, effective January 1, 2026.
2. Connection/General Facility Charges (GFC): One-time connection fees for new sewer connections. The General Facility Charge is $13,500.00 per ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit), effective June 1, 2022. Additional fees may apply based on specific connection requirements.
3. Side Sewer Permit Fees: Various permit fees including residential side sewer permits ($650), multi-family permits ($350/unit), commercial permits ($650/ERU), and additional services such as tapping fees, reinspection fees, and after-hours inspection charges.
4. Sewer Utility Tax: The City of Lake Stevens implements a utility tax on sewer bills - 3% in 2025 increasing to 6% starting January 1, 2026. This is passed through to customers.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lake Stevens Sewer District provides sanitary sewer collection and treatment services to approximately 15,231 customers in the Lake Stevens Urban Growth Area. The District operates 145+ miles of pipe, 33 lift stations, and the Sunnyside Wastewater Treatment Plant, which uses Membrane BioReactor technology. It also performs Cured-In-Place Pipe trenchless rehabilitation on existing sewer lines.

Product overview

Lake Stevens Sewer District operates as a Special Purpose District under RCW Title 57, providing sanitary sewer collection and treatment services to approximately 15,231 customer accounts (over 14,000 sewer connections) in the Lake Stevens Urban Growth Area. The core offering is a unified sewer service comprising collection system infrastructure (144 miles of pipes, 12 miles of interceptors, 33 lift stations) and the Sunnyside Wastewater Treatment Plant utilizing Membrane BioReactor technology with UV disinfection. Supporting services include the CIPP lining trenchless pipe rehabilitation program, Pretreatment Programs for FOG management and industrial users, side sewer permitting, commercial water meter reads, 24/7 emergency response, and financial assistance programs for qualifying customers. The District also manages ongoing capital projects including downtown lift station upgrades and sewer system rehabilitation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sanitary Sewer Collection and Treatment Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Treatment capacity of 5.01 MGD (maximum month flow) serving district service area through 2028
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Lake StevenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnified Sewer Agreement (2005) where District operates and maintains all sewer collection and treatment facilities within entire Lake Stevens Urban Growth Area. Multiple joint participation contracts and amendments since 1965. Joint wastewater conveyance and treatment services. City currently appealing Superior Court ruling on merger timeline (2033 contractual date).
• Snohomish CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterlocal agreements for annexation, sewer line installation, IT services, network/internet/GIS services, and franchise agreements. Boundary Review Board approval required for annexations. Drainage Improvement District #8 consolidation agreement.
• City of MarysvilleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner1999 agreement for sewage disposal services with City of Marysville.
• Washington State Department of EcologycoreOthersRegulatory oversight agency. Required District to move wastewater treatment plant outside floodplain (resulting in new Sunnyside facility in 2013). Ongoing compliance requirements.
• Washington State Association of Sewer Districts (WASWD)minorOthers2023 Retrospective Rating Plan Agreement for workers compensation coverage.
• Lake Stevens Community Resource Center (LCDRC/Volunteers of America)minorOthersReferral resource for customers seeking financial assistance. Part of Caring by Sharing program for one month sewer charge assistance.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Clean Water Services: Regional wastewater and stormwater utility serving Washington County, Oregon (Portland metro). Comparable end-function as a regional wastewater treatment and conveyance provider with similar rate-based funding model and environmental stewardship mandate, though serving a different state.

Broad incumbents

• King County Wastewater Treatment Division: The largest wastewater utility in Washington State, operating regional treatment plants (including Brightwater and South Treatment Plant) serving much of the Seattle metro area. Comparable end-function (wastewater treatment and conveyance) but operates at much greater scale and as a regional wholesale provider rather than a single-district retail utility.
• Seattle Public Utilities: Large municipal utility providing drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste services for the City of Seattle. Comparable wastewater collection and treatment operations but at far greater scale and with a broader service portfolio than Lake Stevens.

Direct peers

• Olympic View Water & Sewer District: Washington special purpose district serving the Edmonds/Mukilteo area with water and sewer service. Comparable as a similarly sized Washington district utility with collection-system infrastructure and treatment responsibilities.
• Alderwood Water & Wastewater District: Washington State special purpose district providing water and wastewater service to south Snohomish County communities. Directly comparable to Lake Stevens as a neighboring Snohomish County sewer/wastewater district with similar governance, rate-based revenue model, and infrastructure scope.
• Silver Lake Water & Sewer District: Washington special purpose district providing water and sewer service in south Snohomish County. Similar district-level governance, monthly rate structure, and wastewater collection/treatment operations to Lake Stevens.
• Sammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District: Washington special purpose district providing water and sewer service on the Sammamish Plateau in King County. Comparable in district structure, customer scale (~10–15K connections), and combined water/wastewater mandate.
• Woodinville Water District: Washington special purpose district providing water and wastewater services in the Woodinville area of King/Snohomish counties. Comparable in district-level operations, monthly billing model, and collection-system ownership.
• Everett Public Works (Wastewater): Municipal wastewater utility serving the City of Everett and portions of Snohomish County, including treatment via the Everett Water Pollution Control Facility. Comparable as a nearby Snohomish County wastewater operator with similar regulatory environment and treatment scale.
• Mukilteo Water & Wastewater District: Washington special purpose district serving Mukilteo and surrounding areas with water and wastewater services. Comparable in district structure, customer scale, and treatment-plant operations to Lake Stevens Sewer District.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LakeStevensSewerDistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lake-stevens-sewer-dist-waste

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lake Stevens Sewer District