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Wenatchee declares emergency after deep sewer force‑main break on Old Station Road
Summary
City staff reported a force‑main failure under Old Station Road that required an emergency repair contract, temporary vactor truck bypass pumping of about 1.2 million gallons and a council vote to approve an emergency declaration and contractor authorization.
Wenatchee City Council voted to declare an emergency and authorize staff to hire a contractor to repair a broken sewer force main in the 400 block of Old Station Road after crews discovered a large sinkhole and a deep pipe failure earlier in January.
Deputy Public Works Director Jessica Shaw told the council the sinkhole revealed extensive underground damage near the Old Station lift station and that the city quickly identified the force main as the source of flowing water. "We shut down the lift station," Shaw said, and the city mobilized a contractor and temporary bypass pumping to keep sewer service to the area.
Shaw described the repair as unusually challenging because the force main sat roughly 19–20 feet deep and required a large excavation with careful shoring. She said crews hauled about "1,200,000 gallons" of wastewater by vactor truck into the city system over about 36 hours while the force main was repaired, and service was restored after about 39 hours.
Shaw said the city contracted Hearst Construction for immediate response; the contract with Hearst Construction was described in the meeting packet as $200,000 for the emergency work, and total costs were still being tallied. Shaw said additional restoration (landscaping and final paving) would be scheduled once weather allows.
Councilmember Rosita moved to approve Resolution No. 2025-02, declaring an emergency and authorizing city staff to hire a contractor to perform necessary repairs on the broken sewer force main; Councilmember Atkinson seconded. The council voted in favor and the motion carried.
The council did not provide a detailed final project cost at the meeting; Shaw said the city would return with a final accounting and schedule for permanent restoration.
Shaw credited regional partners and local vendors for rapid response and said Douglas County Sewer District supplied equipment and crews during the emergency. Shaw also noted the challenge of providing continuous sewer service for customers in the affected area while repairs were underway.
The council's action authorizes staff to finalize contractor work and follow-up restoration; Shaw said the temporary road and fenced work area remain in place and that full restoration likely will occur in summer or fall when conditions permit.
