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Clark Public Utilities celebrates completion of new water supply
August 17, 2010
Clark Public Utilities today celebrated the completion of the South Lake Well Field.
Under development for more than a decade, this new water-supply facility will initially add up to 3.6 million gallons of water per day to the utility’s existing pumping capacity of 31 million gallons per day.
The first phase of the project includes two deep wells, a water treatment facility and about one mile of 30-inch transmission line to connect the new supply source to the utility’s existing water system.
The two wells will initially alternate in operation, until additional water mains are constructed to move water through the system. At that time both wells will be used.
Nancy Barnes, president of the utility’s board of commissioners, turned on the pump for one of the wells, starting the flow of water.
Barnes said she was pleased to see the completed project go into operation after more than 10 years of work. “The startup of the first phase of this project is a major milestone. This is a key part of our plan to meet the growing demand for safe, clean drinking water.”
Pumps draw water from 415 feet below the ground and send water to the treatment building, where chlorine is added for disinfection. The water then moves to a series of filters, which remove iron and manganese. The water is then goes to the distribution system through the new transmission main.
The utility holds water rights issued by the state Department of Ecology that allow pumping up to 10 million gallons of water per day. Development of wells from the shallow aquifer at the site could produce an additional 40 million gallons per day.
Funding for the much of the $10 million project came from a loan from the state’s Public Works Trust Fund. Additional funding came from utility-issued bonds. The loans will be repaid from funds of the utility’s Water System.
This well field and treatment facility is located on Fruit Valley Road, about one mile south of N.E. 78th Street.
The South Lake facility is one of two major projects in development to meet future water demand. The second project is planned for the Paradise Point area near La Center.
The Clark Public Utilities Water System provides service to more than 30,000 homes and businesses in the Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Lakeshore, Hockinson, Brush Prairie, La Center, Meadow Glade, Amboy and Yacolt areas.
Clark Public Utilities is a customer-owned public utility district that also provides electric service to more than 183,000 customers throughout Clark County.
Clark Public Utilities was ranked highest in customer satisfaction among midsize utilities in the west by J.D. Power and Associates in 2008, 2009 and 2010.