By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch When Sandra Isdell tried to start a mobile coffee shop last year in Elbe, she found out that health authorities weren't allowing any new water connections by Elbe Water District. That meant no new businesses could open in the area served by the district because they couldn't get a water permit. That changed in the last couple months. Thanks to efforts by district, state and Pierce County officials, Isdell has her permit and her coffee stand is brewing up business. But an overriding issue between the district and the state remains a stumbling block for commercial or residential growth in the tiny community on the highway to Mount Rainier. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department won't grant new water permits because the Elbe district isn't following the state's guidelines for water-system capacity. According to the county agency's water resources program, water systems like the Elbe district are restricted to the number of buildings and businesses that can connect to their system. The state Department of Health (DOH) sets the number of connections through engineering and water-capacity reviews, and the Elbe system has more connections than DOH approved. DOH directed the district to bring its current number of connections into compliance and take other steps in order to expand and serve more customers. A list of corrective measures was given to the district's management about three years ago, but DOH says the district hasn't taken any of the steps. Until it does, no new hookups are being allowed. That's the problem Isdell encountered. She thought she was on track to get the permits to go with her coffee truck equipment when she learned from the county Health Department about the hookup moratorium. Isdell got past that after inter-agency meetings spearheaded by County Councilman Jim McCune revealed that one of the district's existing 46 connections could be used for her business. Steve Metcalf, a spokesman for the county health department, said representatives from that agency and DOH were able to work with the water district to get Isdell's business connected to the water system and approved for a food permit, the last one she needed. The coffee stand passed a pre-opening inspection March 4, allowing it to open. "I'm grateful,GÇ¥ Isdell said, adding that McCune's help cutting through the red tape "was huge.GÇ¥ The tape isn't gone completely. The state and the water district are still working to solve the district's water-capacity issues. The restriction on new hookups that's still in place applies to any new residential development, as well as commercial. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department requires an adequate supply of water for any projects requiring building and land-use permits. Existing businesses that get new owners or change what they offer to customers might not face the same restriction if they don't require more water, officials said. But if demand on the water system increased (for example, if an existing hospitality business expands and adds a swimming pool), approval would be denied because of the capacity issue. The Elbe water district is a public entity. Its management includes an elected board of commissioners.
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