Birch Bay Water & Sewer District

What Birch Bay Water & Sewer District does

Birch Bay Water and Sewer District (BBWSD) is a special purpose municipal government district formed in 1968 under Chapter 57 of the Revised Code of Washington, providing water and wastewater services to approximately 7,700 residential and commercial connections in northwest Whatcom County. The district operates from a 60-acre administrative and operational site at 7096 Point Whitehorn Rd, Blaine, WA, abutting Birch Bay State Park, and employs 15 full-time staff with additional engineering and operational services contracted externally.

The district's infrastructure comprises three integrated utility systems. Water supply is sourced from City of Blaine groundwater under a long-term supply agreement, with the City treating and disinfecting the water before delivery into BBWSD's distribution network — three reservoirs, four booster pump stations, and approximately 70 miles of water mains. Wastewater is collected through about 50 miles of sewer pipe, 900 manholes, and 11 pump stations feeding a 1.45 MGD wastewater treatment plant employing conventional activated sludge processing with primary clarifiers, surface aerators, and UV disinfection; treated effluent is discharged via an outfall 1,500 feet off Point Whitehorn. The district has completed the EPA Lead Service Line Inventory with no lead service lines identified.

BBWSD generates revenue through recurring monthly water and sewer utility fees, supplemented by connection fees and developer extension charges. Payments are accepted in-office, by mail, via drop box at Bay Center Market, through the Paydici online portal, and via an auto-pay bank withdrawal program. The district is governed by an elected three-member Board of Commissioners (Jeff Benner, Joan Connell, Don Montfort), each serving six-year terms, with policy guidance directed to a General Manager who oversees daily operations. The district also participates in the Whatcom Water Alliance rebate program for residential water conservation.

Name

Birch Bay Water & Sewer District

Legal name

Birch Bay Water and Sewer District

Website

https://bbwsd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Birch Bay Water & Sewer District is a Washington State special purpose municipal district providing drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 7,700 residential and commercial connections in northwest Whatcom County via a 1.45 MGD treatment plant and roughly 70 miles of water mains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB), Gravity Sewer Collection Networks (Sanitary Sewers) (EUANACAA), Sewer Pump/Lift Stations & Wet Wells (EUANACAC)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Wastewater treatment
• Municipal sewer services
• Drinking water supply
• Utility infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Blaine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Water and Sewer Utility Services: Monthly utility fees for water and wastewater services to approximately 7,700 connections. Revenue generated through water and sewer service charges, connection fees, and related utility billing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Birch Bay Water & Sewer District operates a municipal water and wastewater utility serving approximately 7,700 residential and commercial connections in northwest Whatcom County, Washington. The district sources groundwater from the City of Blaine, distributes drinking water through 70 miles of water mains with three reservoirs and four booster pump stations, and collects and treats wastewater through a 1.45 MGD treatment plant with UV disinfection and 50 miles of sewer pipe. It also provides planning, permitting, customer billing, and water conservation programs.

Product overview

Birch Bay Water & Sewer District operates as a special purpose district providing integrated water and wastewater services to approximately 7,700 connections in northwest Whatcom County, Washington. The District's core offerings consist of three interconnected services: Water Supply and Distribution (obtaining groundwater from the City of Blaine, storing and delivering through three reservoirs, four booster pumps, and 70 miles of water mains), Wastewater Treatment (operating a 1.45 MGD treatment plant with UV disinfection, 50 miles of sewer pipe, and 11 pump stations), and Planning/Permits (managing residential and developer connections, extensions, and infrastructure approvals). Supporting services include Water Conservation Programs offering rebates through the Whatcom Water Alliance for high-efficiency fixtures, and a Lead Service Line Inventory program to ensure drinking water safety compliance. All services are governed by an elected three-member Board of Commissioners with approximately 15 full-time employees managing operations from a 60-acre site adjacent to Birch Bay State Park.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Supply and Distribution Service Provides reliable drinking water services to approximately 7,700 customer connections in northwest Whatcom County. The district operates three water reservoirs, four booster pump stations, and approximately 70 miles of water mains. Water is sourced from groundwater operated by the City of Blaine under a long-term supply agreement.
• Wastewater Treatment Service Provides wastewater collection and treatment for district customers through a 1.45 MGD wastewater treatment plant using conventional activated sludge with primary clarifiers, surface aerators, and UV disinfection. The collection system includes about 50 miles of pipe, 900 manholes, and 11 pump stations. Effluent discharges 1,500 feet off Point Whitehorn in 50 feet of salt water.
• Planning and Permits Services Provides residential and developer connection services including side sewer permits, backflow testing, water and sewer extension applications, and project manuals. Manages service line installations and infrastructure development approvals within the district service area.
• Lead Service Line Inventory Program Completed EPA-mandated Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) inventory of all water service lines from water main to meter and meter to building, published as LSL data on ArcGIS Hub. The district has announced no lead service lines were identified within its water system.

Quantifiable outcome

• No lead service lines identified in completed LSL Inventory

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of BlainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term water supply agreement with City of Blaine for groundwater sources. City of Blaine treats and disinfects drinking water before delivery to BBWSD. BBWSD distributes water through its own infrastructure including three reservoirs, booster pump stations, and 70 miles of water mains.
• Whatcom Water AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint rebate program for water conservation. Rebates available for high efficiency WaterSense toilet upgrades, WaterSense irrigation controllers, and Energy Star clothes washer upgrades. Limited to one per property per calendar year.
• Bay Center MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPayment drop box location inside Bay Center Market for customer convenience in paying utility bills
• MRSC RostersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipates in MRSC Small Works Roster per RCW 39.04.155 for projects estimated at $300,000 or less. Contractors can register at mrscrosters.org to join the roster for BBWSD projects.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubject to EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). Completed required Lead Service Line Inventory per EPA mandate. BBWSD LSL data published on ArcGIS Hub.
• Washington Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubject to Washington Department of Health Lead and Copper Rule. DOH provides regulatory oversight and guidance on drinking water standards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Tacoma Water: Large Washington state municipal water utility serving Tacoma and parts of Pierce County. Comparable operating function (treated water distribution, reservoirs, pump stations), but at far greater scale and as a broad incumbent in the region.
• King County Wastewater Treatment Division: Regional wastewater treatment provider for the Seattle metro area operating large-scale activated-sludge treatment plants and outfalls. Comparable wastewater treatment technology profile, but as a regional incumbent with much larger scale and customer base.
• Seattle Public Utilities: Major Pacific Northwest water and wastewater utility providing integrated drinking water, sewer, and drainage services. Comparable product set (water supply, wastewater treatment) but operates as a large multi-service urban incumbent.

Direct peers

• Silver Lake Water & Sewer District: Washington state water and sewer special purpose district operating treatment plants, pump stations, and distribution mains. Closely comparable small-to-mid sized WA district utility.
• Alderwood Water & Wastewater District: Washington state water and wastewater special purpose district serving Lynnwood-area residential and commercial connections. Directly comparable business model, infrastructure, and regulatory environment to BBWSD.
• Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District: Neighboring Whatcom County water and sewer special purpose district providing integrated water and wastewater services. Closest geographic peer with comparable scale, regulatory setting, and customer mix.
• Sammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District: Special purpose water and sewer district in Washington state serving a defined residential service area. Highly comparable as a same-state Chapter 57 RCW-style district providing integrated water and wastewater services to suburban connections.

Regional players

• Whatcom County PUD No. 1: Whatcom County-based public utility district providing water and related utility services in the same region. Comparable customer geography and regulatory framework, with a broader utility mandate.
• Everett Public Works: Municipal water and sewer utility serving Everett, WA. Comparable integrated water/wastewater service model to BBWSD but as a city-operated utility serving a much larger population in a different sub-region.
• City of Bellingham Public Works: Municipal water and wastewater utility serving Bellingham and adjacent parts of Whatcom County. Same service region as BBWSD but operates at significantly larger scale as a city utility rather than a small special purpose district.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

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 Birch Bay Water & Sewer District