By Brian Mittge bmittge@chronline.com ,Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Chehalis is planning a citywide check of its water pipes to find out what is happening to more than a third of the city's water, which is apparently disappearing from the water system.
The loss could be leaks, an accumulation of problems in the hundreds of water meters around the city, or a combination of both, said Chehalis Public Works Director Jim Nichols.
"All we know is one meter says we're producing this much, and another series of meters says we're serving this much, and the problem is somewhere in between," Nichols said.
The problem was discovered by comparing records during a regular six-year check of the city's water system, which is required by the Washington Department of Health.
The report, still in draft form, was created by the city's consultant, TJF and Associates.
Some loss of water is always expected, Nichols said. Old water systems leak, and old water meters gradually stop recording all the water that flows through them, he said.
"I would imagine there's going to be some (leaks). With a system this old it's just a matter of course, but I do not believe we have this incredibly leaky system," Nichols said. "I think it's a combination of issues: the system, meters, recording." When the gap between what the city produces and what it distributes reaches 20 percent, additional testing to identify and fix leaks is required by the state.
The city plans to spend $17,000 to have the entire 82 miles of the city's water system checked by sonar for leaks.
In 2002, the city produced a total of almost 737 million gallons of potable water. The city pipes water in from the upper reaches of the North Fork of the Newaukum River, after which the water is treated in a hillside plant.
According to the draft water system plan update, on average, 38 percent of the drinkable water the city's treatment plant produces isn't recorded on any water meters in the rest of the system.
Nichols said some of the loss could be in the city's water treatment plant, which uses water in its processes but doesn't have meters in all locations.
He said customers are not seeing extra water consumption on their bills because of the issue.
If anything, more water is flowing through meters than is being recorded, Nichols said.
Brian Mittge covers politics, the environment and Lewis County government for The Chronicle. He may be reached by e-mail at bmittge@chronline.com, or by telephoning 807-8237.
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