The Highline Water District should be commended for the plan to redevelop the small McMicken Well site.

However, the District's redevelopment of wells is too slow. At least half of the district's water supply should be coming from wells. This slow well redevelopment, along with a misguided conservation plan and high Seattle water rates are SEVERELY DAMAGING THE AIR WE BREATHE.

To improve the air environment, the District must establish a low flat rate with unlimited water usage for the 3/4-inch residential water line user. Why conserve water when the conserved water is destroyed by flowing into Puget Sound or resold at $10 per gallon by bottled water distributors?

Our lawns and yards are a brown grass fire hazards because of high water rates and useless conservation. Green lawns and yards scrub pollution from the air and go a long way towards improving the air we breathe.

Realtors will tell you that homes with green lawns look better and sell better. More jobs will be created for the lawn, yard and home development industries.

Water supplied by Seattle is costly. More wells should be redeveloped using savings from costly Seattle water purchases.

Dan Caldwell

Des Moines