City files state sewer survey; lift-station project delayed by high water table and well issues

City public works and the mayor told the Lewiston City Council the state’s mandatory sewer-survey form has been completed and filed, and they updated the council on an ongoing sewer lift-station project that is running behind schedule because of a high water table and a malfunctioning dewatering well.

Paul Swainston presented a 30‑page Department of Water Quality survey the state uses to collect system details such as lagoon GPS locations and asset-replacement planning. "This report will be on file in the city office that anybody can look at," Swainston said, adding that some survey questions do not apply to smaller systems.

Mayor Roy Hall provided a project update on the new sewer lift station and associated work. Hall said crews are about a week behind schedule and that dewatering efforts have been complicated by a high groundwater table. He also said there is an issue with the dewatering well that has limited the contractor’s ability to keep the work area dry.

Council members and staff discussed other water-infrastructure items the state asked the city to list for potential funding, including replacing metal pipe that runs from storage tanks to a pressure‑reducing station and upsizing a water line on Center Street west of 2400 West to improve fire flow.

Council member Jonna reported excavation along West Worm Creek exposed a water main. She cited Utah state code "7 3 dash 3 dash 2 9" when discussing legal limits on altering stream channels and said the exposed pipe will need backfilling and possible easement checks; she said the creek was returned to its original channel and the exposed pipe is drying.

No vote was taken; staff said the sewer-survey answers would remain on file at city offices and that the lift-station project would continue with revised scheduling as conditions allow.