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City staff: water pressure varies across Washington; Front Street main work continues and chlorine feed will switch to gravity system
Summary
Staff reported wide variation in system pressure across town, explained regulatory minimums and described progress on Front Street water main work. Officials also said the city plans to switch its chlorine injection to a gravity-feed system to reduce safety and maintenance problems.
Kevin, a city staff member, told the meeting that water pressure in Washington varies significantly by neighborhood and that “the city of Washington is not increasing the pressure of the system.” He gave example readings: a central hydraulic point at the meeting building of about 82 psi, Front Street near 110 psi, and several higher-elevation neighborhoods (Caleb Court, Lilac) around 35 psi. Kevin said the Department of Natural Resources requires delivery of at least 20 psi at the point of entry to a residence.
The pressure discussion matters for residents who have reported low or high pressures. Kevin said the system’s pressure is determined by elevation and the tanked, elevated distribution system rather than a single citywide adjustment: “The pressure in Washington is not adjusted by anything other than the tanks.”
On Front Street water work, Kevin said crews were working on Olive Street and expected to finish that stretch within roughly a month barring emergency repairs: “We have everything from market to hydrants and everything. … by the end of next month, we should have it done.” He cautioned that crews on Front Street may be pulled off for emergency water-main breaks or sewer problems, which can delay paving and other follow-on work.
Kevin also described a planned change to the water-treatment chlorine feed system. He said the current system uses pumps that pressurize chlorine feed lines, which can develop pinholes and spray concentrated chlorine inside the building. The city has budgeted a gravity-feed injection system and is trying to get a unit in stock: “We’re going to try out what they call a gravity feed system…Safer for the building, safer for the operators,” he said. He noted the chlorine used is concentrated (about 14%) and that reducing pressurized pumps will reduce safety risks and maintenance problems.
Other operational notes in the meeting included continued positive sample results (“our samples always come back good”), the plan to keep the backhoe as backup while adding a mini excavator for less ground damage, and coordination with the street department for paving after water main work is complete.
No regulatory change or formal policy action was adopted at the meeting. Kevin noted one recent procedural interaction with DNR on the collection side sanitary survey; he said the inspector indicated the retention approach likely would not receive inspection-side approval, though he distinguished inspection perspectives from engineering review: “He’s not the engineering side.”
The meeting concluded with staff offering to provide regular monthly updates if the governing body wanted them; no schedule change was approved at the meeting.
