Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Supply topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City reports reservoir refill and Well 11 testing; VOC results pending
Summary
Public works staff reported the reservoir refill to roughly 3.8 million gallons and ongoing bacteriological sampling; testing (including VOCs) is pending and staff said they expect Department of Health approval after results are satisfactory. Well 11 testing and Ecology’s guidance on aquifer depth were discussed.
Presiding officer asked staff for a water-system update. Rob (first referenced) reported the reservoir had been refilled after pumping resumed Monday and the city hit approximately 3,800,000 gallons; staff will pull a bacteriological sample and send it to Othello for testing and are awaiting VOC test results before returning the source to full service. "Once we have the ... VOC testing done, I believe we'll get a green light from Department of Health to go ahead and put it online," Rob said.
Councilors asked about Well 11 at the airport. Staff said the drill reached about 590 feet and encountered a high-yield, water-bearing zone; Ecology advised that the city consider going to a deeper aquifer. Staff said they will pursue further testing, meet with legal counsel and seek additional Ecology guidance to determine whether to change the point of withdrawal rather than change the use.
Council directed staff to continue testing and to return with recommendations once laboratory results and Ecology feedback are available.
