Ephrata pushing forward with infrastructure upgrades

EPHRATA – The city of Ephrata is currently undertaking several initiatives designed to enhance the quality of life for residents and address infrastructure needs across the community. These include water supply, parks, road maintenance and wastewater treatment projects.  

“We're really happy with (the projects),” Ephrata Mayor Bruce Reim said. "It's been a pretty exciting time. For the past couple three years, we've brought in some new employees that have been able to increase our ability to get this done.” 

Streets  

Street maintenance in Ephrata is undergoing a comprehensive review, with crack sealing and chip sealing techniques being employed to extend the lifespan of city roadways.  

Crack sealing, the first phase of the undertaking, involved cleaning and filling pavement cracks to prevent further deterioration. This stage commenced in August 2024 and continued until November, successfully covering roughly 11 miles of city streets. 

“We're going to do a lot — a lot — more maintenance on our roads coming up next year,” Reim said.  

The second phase, chip sealing, is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2025. This process involves applying a layer of liquid asphalt and crushed gravel to enhance traction and durability.  

Together, these methods work to protect road surfaces and improve safety for drivers and pedestrians. City officials hope the process will save money in the long run by extending roadway lifespans. 

“Chip sealing is always an interesting project,” Riem said. “The ability to do such a better job with it. Chip sealing has become a fine art now, and we're hoping that it will minimize the potential damage to cars and windshields and such. They do such a good job of chip sealing and then removing the chips that don't fit in. It's going to be nice and quickly increase the longevity of our roads.” 

Water pressure 

The Pressure Zone Project involves the construction of a new water reservoir alongside a booster pump station aimed at improving the reliability and efficiency of water services within the city.  

“Ask anybody on the hill, it'll increase their water pressure two-fold, and it also gives us an excellent way to deal with the continuing water pressure throughout the town, because it will take the pressure off the existing water facilities that we have on the other side of town,” Reim said.  

The city has had challenges with residents on the southeastern side of town having unreliable water pressure, city officials have previously said. The goal is to improve the system to eliminate that issue while being able to handle the city’s growth. Expanded water system capability is expected to help address high-demand times and emergencies that may arise.  

On Nov. 23, crews began construction early in the morning, reportedly pouring approximately 1,500 cubic yards of concrete. The supplies were delivered by 150 trucks from American Rock Products facilities in Ephrata, Othello and Quincy. Since the concrete was poured in one round, it will dry uniformly to create a solid water tower foundation. 

“They're going to start either this week or next week, the holidays coming up, it'll slow down, but they're going to start with the flooring, and then they're going to start working after the first of the year with the wood sides and such,” Reim said.  

The next phase involves constructing a steel water tank, scheduled to commence in the spring of 2025 with an expected duration of about five months.  

“We're really happy with the crew that's putting it together and are looking forward to completion late next year,” Reim said. “We're very pleased with the way it's going so far. It's going to slow down a little bit through the winter, but it'll pick up next spring.” 

Water reclamation 

Ephrata’s Water Reclamation Treatment Facility has served the city since it replaced the old plant in 1998. Originally built in 1948, the facility underwent major improvements in 1956 to support Larson Air Base.  

“Well, our sewer treatment plant out there is very old. It's over 25 years old,” Reim said. “We're going to be upgrading it and modernizing it and (replacing) parts that have worn out or become obsolete, and we're going to be upgrading the whole system and increasing its capabilities.” 

Recognizing the need for ongoing updates, the General Sewer Wastewater Facility Plan published in 2017 outlined specific enhancements required to maintain efficient operation. Recent improvements to the WRTF will address various components, including disinfection systems, headworks, clarifiers, membranes and digesters.  

“It has been started in phases over the last several years and will continue to be upgraded as we move along,” Reim said. “Big issue that we're having is getting parts. Ever since COVID, it's been a little more difficult to get the parts, but they're coming along. It just takes time.” 

Parks 

Ephrata has also initiated upgrades to the restrooms at Lion’s Park. The previous restroom, located near the Ephrata Firefighter’s Training Space, has been demolished, and the area will be transformed into a lawn.  

A new restroom facility was installed Nov. 25, positioned near the basketball courts and playground. The upgrade to restroom facilities serves multiple purposes, such as improving accessibility and providing essential services for those enjoying Ephrata’s public spaces.  

“It'll be a big upgrade for the usage down at Lions Park,” Reim said. “It's closer to the road; it's closer for accessibility and easier to keep an eye on.” 

Additionally, the sports complex near Splash Zone and Ephrata Middle School is set to receive a new restroom later in the spring of 2025, following the destruction of the previous facility due to an arson fire earlier in this year. 

The new facility will be located near the skate and dog parks and is anticipated to be installed early next year. 

“We're still in the early stages of development and putting that together, deciding what comes first and what the project's going to entail,” Reim said.  

The completion of these upgrades is projected for January 2026. The city anticipates that these modifications will significantly extend the facility’s lifespan and elevate the quality of wastewater treatment, ultimately benefiting the community. 

    The City of Ephrata will begin building the floor of the water tower in upcoming weeks according to Mayor Bruce Reim. The concrete that was poured on Nov. 23 is now dry and the next steps of the project are to start soon.