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Spokane water report: low PFAS detections, conservation plan update, aquifer ILA and solar grant
Summary
City staff told a council subcommittee the 2024 water-quality report meets EPA standards though low PFAS detections warrant monitoring; staff also described a 5-year water conservation plan update, an interlocal agreement for the Aquifer Protection Area on the August ballot, and a Commerce grant for solar charging at the water facility.
City water officials told a Spokane City Council subcommittee on June 15 that the city’s 2024 annual water-quality report meets state and federal standards but includes “low level detections” of PFAS chemicals in three wells and that staff are monitoring one Ray Street well whose single-sample result exceeded the 4 parts-per-trillion action level.
“What we’re talking about is very, very small,” a water department director said, noting the system’s four-quarter rolling average for Ray Street remained below the 4 parts per trillion action level. The department said it conducts roughly 2,000 tests a year and currently complies with EPA requirements.
Why it matters: PFAS (commonly known as “forever chemicals”) have become a focus of public concern. City staff said the Ray Street well is being closely monitored with quarterly testing and that the system currently meets state and federal standards, while acknowledging the public interest in ongoing reporting.
City staff also described an upcoming update to the Water Conservation Master Plan, adopted in 2020 and due for a five-year refresh. The department said the plan’s goals include shaving peak use by 15% by 2030 and reducing base per-capita indoor use by 5%. Staff said updates will incorporate the city’s drought-response measures, including every-other-day watering and a 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daytime watering restriction.
Infrastructure and construction: The department reported several construction items: Stevens/Washington work aimed to be complete for Hoopfest, a multi-week closure at Assembly and Francis for an 18-inch water main that will connect two pressure zones (projected to close that intersection for about six weeks), and future work on Washington between 3rd and 8th in coordination with Spokane Public Schools.
Aquifer Protection Area: Staff said an interlocal agreement (ILA) with Spokane County will be placed on council’s agenda; county voters inside city limits will decide this August whether to join the county-managed Aquifer Protection Area for 20 years. The ILA would let the county collect a portion of funds for education and monitoring (about $500,000 annually), with remaining revenue then prorated to participating jurisdictions; city staff estimated a net distribution to the city of roughly $1.5–1.8 million after the county’s top-line share.
Clean energy grant: City staff said the Department of Commerce awarded a Clean Energy Community grant of about $2.8 million for solar at the water department to power and store electricity for fleet charging; the local match was described in discussion as roughly $200,000. Construction and design timelines were estimated to finish in 2026.
Ending: Staff said they will continue quarterly PFAS testing, present the ILA language to council, and return with detailed design and cost information for the solar charging project. The subcommittee asked staff to provide more detail on monthly operating-cost savings from the solar installation and on the grant match breakdown.
