Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Council hears water-supply alternatives after April supply-line leak; staff tees up three policy questions for SPU talks
Summary
City staff presented an alternative transmission alignment Feb. 4 and asked council whether Mercer Island should permanently intertie Shorewood, decommission an older SPU transmission segment after the new line is in service, and pursue transfer of SPU-owned segment 4 to city ownership.
City staff updated the Mercer Island City Council Feb. 4 on alternatives for the island’s primary drinking-water supply after a high‑profile transmission-line leak on the Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) system in April 2024.
Chief of Operations Jason Kittner and city utilities engineers described a proposed alternate transmission alignment that would run a new supply main from the boat launch area along Southeast 30th, up Gallagher Hill to Southeast 40th and tie into the existing transmission near the reservoir. The new alignment would move the critical section out of an erosion-prone, difficult-to-access slope where the 24‑inch SPU line has experienced repeated failures.
Why it matters: Mercer Island is a direct SPU customer and relies on that transmission to fill its reservoir tanks. The April 2024 failure occurred at a steep, constrained site that complicated conventional repair work; staff said moving the primary alignment to more accessible ground would reduce future operational risk and ease repairs.
Three policy questions for council direction
Staff asked the council three targeted questions they will use in negotiations and updates with…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
