Surfside residents were recently hit with a E. coli contamination notice, forcing all households to boil tap water before drinking, cooking, or brushing their teeth.
This includes filters being potentially compromised with ecoli. This was a new water notice for residents with the water testing for ecoli but Surfside has faced repeat boil water advisories over recent years for busted pipes, compounding long-term concerns about water service disruption and quality. These boil water alerts seem to occur annually during the July 4th weekend.
Many residents report that the water appears cloudy and discolored. And filters become dirty needing constant replacement.
What once may have been viewed as a minor inconvenience has now grown into a costly reality: many residents no longer trust the tap water, and the hidden expenses of bottled water and home filtration systems are turning Surfside’s supposedly “cheap” water system into an expensive proposition when buying bottled waters and filters.
■ A Reputation for Cloudy & Dirty Water
Even outside of boil notices, residents frequently stories of:
- Cloudy or discolored water
- Sediment and grit
- Brown or beige filters after only weeks of use
- Odd taste from tap water
- Some claim of white clothing turning a beige color or no longer white
- More frequent filter changes with filters showing discoloration
For families, seniors, and immunocompromised residents, “just boil it” isn’t good enough. Trust in Surfside’s water system has eroded—and rebuilding it will require more than reassurances.
The Myth of the $31 Water Rate
Surfside’s treasurer and President boast that water is only $31 per month, claiming it as one of the lowest rates in Washington. They make these claims to justify members yearly dues. But two major facts are often left out:
- The rate is artificially subsidized.
Lot owners not connected to the water system are required to pay into it, masking the true operational cost for those who use the water. - Many residents pay more for safe water than the system itself.
People are forced to purchase bottled water and replace filters far more often than normal due to lack of trust in tap quality.
When the real costs are added together, Surfside’s water is far from inexpensive.
💧 The Real Cost of Water in Surfside (Tap + Bottled + Filters)
Using a common price of $4 per 24-pack of 16 oz water bottles, the cost of relying on bottled water adds up quickly.
(Assumes 64 oz/day drinking water per person.)
Bottled Water Costs Added to the Monthly Water Bill
Household Size Bottled Water Cost Cost 1 person ~$20/month or 120 per year
2 people ~$40/month $240 per year i 3 people ~$60/month $360 per year 4 people ~$80/month $480 per year
A family of four now spends nearly 372 per year (Surfside water rate) + 480= $852 per year.
🚰 Filters: The Second Hidden Expense
Bottled water isn’t the only additional cost. Because of discoloration, sediment, and system disruptions, many residents install filtration systems for cooking, coffee, ice, and pets—even after boiling water.
But filters in Surfside don’t last their advertised lifespan.
Expected vs. Actual Filter Costs in Surfside
Filter Type
Normal Yearly Cost depending in replacement frequency which appears to be 2x at least due to filter discoloration needing more replacement of filters.
Refrigerator filter $40–$80
Brita/PUR pitcher filters $60–$120/
Under-sink carbon filters $50–$150
Whole-house filter system $100–$300
Reverse Osmosis (RO) system $80–$200
3-stage whole house ~$100 to $250
Many households are spending up to hundreds per year on filters alone—simply to make their water usable. These are normal replacement rates but since residents report more frequent filter changes, these costs would be higher.
💸 The Reality: Surfside Residents Are Paying 2–3× for Water
Residents now describe the situation as:
“Paying for three different costs for water.”
- HOA Water Bill – for water you may not want to drink
- Bottled Water – for safe hydration
- Filtration Costs – to make water usable for cooking, ice, and appliances
When combined, many Surfside families with four residents now pay:
Hundreds per year or much more for filter water-related costs. That’s added to the already high $51 per month( Surfside water rate plus bottled water costs for one person.
This is significantly higher than cities with water systems — and those communities’ where residents actually drink their tap water. Of course many people choose to drink bottled water. I have always drank the tap water in Portland.
🔎 A Community Demanding Safe, Reliable Water
Residents are asking:
- Why are boil water notices recurring?
- Why do filters require replacement so quickly?
- Why is tap water cloudy or discolored?
- Why are my white shirts no longer white.
This is not simply a preference issue. It’s a public health, trust, and quality of life issue.
Clean water is not a luxury — it is a basic right.
Until Surfside provides consistently safe, clear and clean water, residents will continue paying far more than $31 a month for the water they rely on.
All of this is happening in a community with a lake choked by algae blooms and dead fish, where thousands have already been poured into expensive chemical treatments. The bottom line: despite the board’s talking points, Surfside water is not cheap—residents are paying the price.
Surfside Washington News 