By Mai Ling Slaughter, The Chronicle, 8/6/99
Following regular summer precautions, Centralia Utilities Director Dick Southworth asks residents to help conserve water on a voluntary basis.
Southworth said the city's water level is not low, but if the weather continues to be warm and dry, use could increase at a level faster than the city can sustain.
''When the reservoir goes down,'' he said, ''we can't keep up with usage.''
Those using Centralia's water supply are being asked to water their outside lawns no more often than every other day.
Those with an even-numbered address are asked to water on even-numbered days only. Those with odd-numbered addresses are asked to water on odd-numbered days only.
If this voluntary system is followed, it will help keep the supply from dwindling on warmer days.
Water Operations Manager Ken Kadow said the request is typically sent out earlier in the summer just as a reminder to people to conserve water.
The two main reservoirs - the 4.5-million-gallon Seminary Hill and 2.5-million-gallon Davis Hill reservoirs - produce water according to how much is needed.
But on days when the temperature is upwards of 90 degrees, Kadow said, sometimes the water use increases to 6 million gallons a day.
''After three days of (such use),'' Kadow said, ''then you're in trouble.''
In the winter, water use can be as low as 2 million gallons a day, he said. The yearly average used per day is 2.5 million gallons.
Southworth said the city is trying to find another source of water. The supply now is pumped from the city's groundwater, but, Southworth said, it's important to have a second source in case of an emergency.
''It's kind of nice to have an opposite source of water,'' he said. ''Right now we're lacking a surface source of water, so you can be able to go back and forth between the two.''
The city used the Newaukum River until its water line was destroyed by a slide in 1991. But in order to again use water from any river, the city would have needed to add a filtration plant.
Unable to afford such an expensive plant, city leaders decided then not to build one. Now, however, the city is looking into acquiring water rights on the Skookumchuck River. It would be a greater source for water in the summer months than the smaller Newaukum River.
Next week, Southworth said, he expects the new Tennis Court Well in Fort Borst Park to be operating. Although it's not a holding tank, it will filter the water using an air-filter system new to Centralia's water.
''We're getting the production capability now,'' Southworth said. ''The next step is to increase capacity.''
Pe Ell is also experiencing minor problems with its water supply, said Mayor John Penberth.
''We're just barely able to maintain our water level,'' he said.
Its storage tank holds 500,000 gallons, and it has remained at a little more than 200,000 for the past three weeks.
''If it would drop below 200,000 or 175,000 gallons,'' he added, ''then it would really be the cause of a major problem.''
The town's water supply comes from the Chehalis River after its raw water line to Lester Creek was destroyed last year.
However, Penberth said, he hopes to replace that line this year.
''But we are putting great urgency on fixing that raw water line,'' he said. ''The gravity flow from Lester Creek would keep all lines full.''
In the past, the town's water supply has been as low as 80,000 gallons.
Chehalis Water Superintendent John Barton said its water supply remains at an average intake of 2.7 million gallons a day. The city's supply comes from the the North Fork of the Newaukum River.
However, if the river is low, water from the Chehalis River can also be used.
''Last year,'' he said, ''we did need to use the Chehalis River to catch up.''
He added water use was down last month, although it is at an its average level for August.
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.
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