Mai Ling Slaughter,
The Chronicle, The Chronicle, 7/22/99
Chehalis last month applied for a $900,000 loan that would help keep its water treatment plant residue out of streams and other water bodies.
The state Department of Ecology requires that the city construct a settling basin for the residue - and water used to clean the plant's filters - by January 2001.
The water now runs down a storm line into a wet area where it settles out, said water Superintendent John Barton.
"We're no longer allowed to discharge water by this method," he said, adding the water does not drain directly into any streams.
Barton said contractors will begin construction of the residual settling basin in spring 2000. They should be finished by the end of the year.
"This was one of the projects that we knew we had to do," said City Manager Dave Campbell. "We anticipated having to do that with the water increase adjustments earlier this year.
"It's not going to lead to any further rate increases at this point," he added.
However, not enough revenue has been accumulated since the increase for the city to avoid needing a loan.
"Since that had to be done so soon," Barton said, "we just didn't have enough in our reserve."
The 20-year loan is at 2.5 percent.
To settle silt and fine particles to the bottom of the basins, employees add a coagulant to the city's raw water supply. It keeps the debris near the bottom of the basins, where it can be easily cleaned after the basins are drained.
After the proposed residual retention basin is finished, the residue - as well as the water used to clean the filters would be discharged into the settling basin to be properly disposed of.
The $900,000 cost includes the price of constructing pipes from the water treatment plant to the site. Consultants are proposing the site be built near Coal Creek.
The basin was pre-designed last year, and consultants are completing its final design this year.
The water treatment plant was built in 1961 and is receiving a number of upgrades to coincide with water rates increasing earlier this year.
Barton said the upgrades are necessary to meet DOE requirements, but they also allow for "future expansion which we are anticipating doing after this project."
Mai Ling Slaughter covers municipal government for The Chronicle. She can be reached by e-mail at news@chronline.com or by telephoning 807-8237.
This page created and maintained by Chehalis River Council
Send comments or questions to the: Chehalis River Council