We are writing as the owners and operators of Burton Water Company, which serves drinking water to 1,000 to 1,500 people via 415 connections to homes and businesses in the Burton community.

The recent re-paving of Vashon Highway generated hundreds of truckloads of asphalt millings, which were stored and spread at several locations around the island.

A few weeks into the project, we learned that some of this material had been spread on roads within the Burton watershed, an area estimated at 120 acres, owned largely by Misty Isle Farms. The watershed recharges the Burton aquifer, which is a permeable bed of sand and gravel; it is very effective as a water filter but is highly vulnerable to surface contamination.

Based on extensive conversations in the past few weeks with our contamination chemist and our hydrogeologist, we are convinced that the risk to our customers’ water quality, though not zero, is very low.

Out of an abundance of caution, we feel the most responsible action in this situation is to quickly remove the material from the watershed, before the onset of winter rains. To this end, and with neither blame nor recrimination, we are reaching out to all concerned parties for help in this effort.

We will note that Misty Isle Farms has in the past been a responsible neighbor and steward of this vital aquifer.

If you are a Burton Water customer or concerned citizen with input or seeking more information, you may call the Burton Water office at 206-463-0005.

You may also contact the King County executive at 206-263-9600 with comments or questions.

— Evan Simmons, Jim Garrison,

Burton Water Company