City staff and consultant Ryan Withers presented the first briefing on the Moses Lake Water System Plan, the 10‑year document the Department of Health reviews and approves. Withers outlined the plan’s purpose — estimate future demand, identify improvements, and ensure financial plans for necessary projects — and walked council through the supply/demand modeling.

Key figures and options

Withers said the system currently operates with 19 active wells combined to supply roughly 26,000,000 gallons per day and that maximum‑day historical flows sit around 14,000 gallons per minute. The plan’s 20‑year projection shows maximum‑day demand could rise toward or above 25,000 gpm if growth follows current comp‑plan figures and no additional conservation or efficiency measures are realized (Ryan Withers).

The plan evaluates non‑growth items such as water quality, policy and design criteria, storage, transmission capacity, and a capital improvement program. It identifies potential new groundwater wells, continued study of a surface‑water source to the east of town for peak‑season supply, a pipeline repair and replacement program, system leak detection on a five‑year cycle, and implementation of an automated meter reading (AMR) system. Withers emphasized that if the city achieves water‑use efficiency savings and adjusts development patterns (smaller lots, ADUs, duplexes) the need for costly new supply sources can be deferred by years.

Regulatory review and next steps

Withers noted the Department of Health approves the water system plan on a 10‑year cycle and will expect evidence of reduced demand per capita or sustained conservation before accepting substantial changes to capacity assumptions. The consultant recommended pursuing targeted projects and efficiency programs that can extend the useful life of current sources while pursuing long‑term additional supply where needed.

At council’s request, staff will return with additional tables from the plan that model aquifer depletion and other supply‑side constraints in more detail.

Attributions

This article draws on remarks by consultant Ryan Withers and city staff during the council meeting and references figures and constraints discussed in the presentation.