Wasilla council hears Public Works update as water-model flushing eases brown-water complaints; airport property flagged for acquisition

Eric Shaw, public works director, told the Wasilla City Council the department has been using new mapping and a KYpipe hydraulic model to guide water-system maintenance and capital work.

“We were able to use the KY pipe to facilitate a flushing event,” Shaw said, describing a late-evening test with the fire department that used a high-flow apparatus the presentation called a “hose monster.” Shaw said the model predicted 1,200–1,400 gallons per minute and that the field measurement exceeded 1,600 gallons per minute. He said the operation produced velocities above 3 feet per second and flushed brown water from downtown lines for roughly 45 minutes.

The test was scheduled at 9 p.m. to avoid the usage hump, Shaw said, and the city posted on Facebook to warn customers. “We flowed water for over an hour and, it was extremely successful,” he said, adding staff received no complaints from that event.

Why it matters: residents have reported brown or high-iron water in the downtown distribution system. The model and flushing tests give staff a data-driven basis for targeting valves and hydrants to improve water quality and to provide fire-flow information to emergency planners.

Sewer and permitting: Shaw reported the city has secured a key Army Corps 404 determination allowing staff to proceed with the DEC 401 permitting process for a larger sewer effluent discharge plan. He said the city is negotiating purchase of wetland mitigation credits from the Sioux Connect Wetland Mitigation Bank; purchase terms are under legal review. Shaw announced a public meeting in council chambers on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. to brief neighbors, describe the permitting timeline and offer well-water testing for nearby properties. He said the city mailed more than 100 letters to adjacent homeowners offering well tests for constituents including coliform.

Sludge handling: Shaw said the sludge-handling upgrade is at about 65% design and includes two new digesters and a new control building. He told the council the sizing was developed to reduce the need to haul sludge to Anchorage: “Yes. That’s how we approach the sizing,” he said.

Airport projects and property issues: Shaw said the Taxiway K contract has been awarded to Aetna Construction pending final paperwork and a preconstruction meeting; work will likely stage this winter with major activity in spring. He also presented consultant survey results for a property identified as Lot 20, which shows trees, power poles and even the peak of a house that penetrate FAA obstruction surfaces for the existing 5,100-foot runway and the planned 6,000-foot ultimate runway. Shaw said the owner has indicated plans to subdivide the parcel into 14 lots, which could create multiple new height obstructions.

Shaw provided preliminary financial context for negotiations: staff estimate the property’s current value is “more than $2,000,000” and said if the site is developed and then purchased the acquisition cost could exceed $16,000,000 based on anticipated lot and home sizes. He said staff will continue negotiating options with the property owner, including easements, restrictions on building height, undergrounding utilities or a full purchase.

Other notes: Shaw said the Herman Water Tower site will go out to bid for a new well this winter and the Herman Road water-line extension design is nearly complete; installation is planned for spring to precede the DOT-led Herman Road reconstruction. He also reported progress on the Bumpus ballfield project (septic and water connected and premade bathrooms arriving by barge) and said staff will return to council with a proposal to extend power to those facilities.

Council questions focused on Lot 20 acquisition strategy, whether the Palmer–Wasilla interconnect remains secure after Palmer’s municipal election, and digester sizing and cost estimates. Shaw agreed to follow up with specific capacity and cost figures where he did not have exact numbers at the meeting.

What’s next: staff will brief neighbors at the Oct. 15 public meeting on the sewer permitting and well testing; airport parcel negotiations will continue and staff will bring additional options and cost information back to the council.