For starters, water is so scarce here the city is only able to permit very small projects—those needing no more than the equivalent of three residences' worth of water. And, that looks to remain the status quo until a new 24" water main from Bellevue to Issaquah is completed sometime within the next year. Assuming a necessary permit is forthcoming.

Port Blakely Communities, developer of the Issaquah Highlands, a 3,250-home master-planned community, traded its commitment to construct the main (from Bellevue to Issaquah) for access to the current water for its massive project. Once the $16-million to $18-million water main is in, ownership will be transferred to the city, giving it a new resource for further development. The problem is, a construction permit from the state's Department of Transportation has not been forthcoming—putting the whole process on hold.

The stall can be found at Lakemont Boulevard, just west of Issaquah off State Route 900, where connection of completed sections on either hide hinges on the DOT allowing Port Blakely to bore beneath the road. Butch Weiher, a construction inspector with the city tells GlobeSt, "The section I'm working on is 85% complete. The second is being held up by permit issues with the DOT." Just exactly what those issues are is unclear, and GlobeSt was unable to reach a transportation department official for clarification on deadline.