By Mai Ling Slaughter, The Chronicle, 9/3/99
After a week of testing, Centralia's new Tennis Court Wells are supplying water to city water users.
Mayor Pro Tem Joyce Barnes dedicated the $1.2 million wells at a ceremony Thursday morning in Fort Borst Park.
But rather than using champagne, she poured a more fitting liquid - water - over one of the well pieces.
"We're just baptizing this," she joked with the 30-some people who attended the dedication.
The completely automated system can pump up to 1,800 gallons of water a minute, depending on how much the city needs. The water is then pumped into the 13,000-gallon "clearwell" before being pumped to one of the city's reservoirs.
The city's two main reservoirs are the 4.5 million-gallon Seminary Hill and 2.5 million gallon Davis Hill reservoirs.
The new facility also has an air filter system in a 30-foot tower. The system helps balance the pH level of its water and vaporizes contaminants, such as perchloroethylene.
The contaminant, commonly known as PCE, was found in the city's Eshom Well in 1988 and may be inching its way toward the new well from another source, said Utilities Director Richard Southworth.
But the new well protects the water supply from PCE - known to cause cancer, liver damage and other ailments - and city officials plan to build a similar air filter system at the Eshom Well within the next couple of years.
That well has been off line since the contaminant was found, although it is sometimes used in emergencies.
The water rate increase for Centralia water customers is paying off the Public Works Trust Fund loan with which the Tennis Court Wells were constructed, and it is also supporting some work for the Eshom Well.
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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