Ephrata moves forward with water system upgrades

EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata has a few projects in the works relating to the city’s water system. At the Feb. 7 city council meeting, two more contracts relating to the overall planned maintenance and improvements of the system were approved by the council.

“This is building on solving our water issues,” said Ephrata Public Works Director Rob Harris at the Feb. 7 meeting. 

At the meeting, the council unanimously passed two contracts. The first was the approval of the contract with the State Public Works Board for the Reservoir 6 water project which will cost around $16 million to complete. The project is being funded through both grants and loans and is intended to support residents in the northern, elevated part of Ephrata, Harris said.

This approval by the council for the contract is the final step on the construction portion, Harris told the council, allowing the city to be reimbursed for the work already done and progress toward completion of the project. He said they hope to have the project out for bids by the end of February.

The second contract that passed was a bid contract for a couple of wells to be removed and rehabilitated. These are only two of several wells slated for maintenance or upgrades this year.

“Over the last several years there have been some pump deficiencies in the wells in the city of Ephrata and that can be caused by several different problems; aging pumps, old encasings, but what they’re seeing mostly is the aquifers dropping,” Harris said.

This contract is specifically for Wells 4 and 5.

“These are two wells that basically aren't producing as they should anymore and it is budgeted to rehabilitate them,” said Harris. 

He went on to explain that when wells are rehabilitated, the first step is to remove the motor and pump so the well and pump can be properly inspected for any needed repairs. 

Harris said rehabilitation of wells is part of preventive maintenance and is a fairly quick process to complete if no significant issues are found.

Harris said he expects Wells 4 and 5 to be completed by springtime. This contract was a bid for the removal and inspection of the wells only. Any needed repairs will then go out for a new bid.

The rehabilitation of the wells and other planned improvements by the city are intended to lower the pressure on the system, especially in the summer when the demand and usage of the system are higher, to prevent recent and future issues, Harris said. 

Along with these two contracts being approved, the council also announced the appointment of two workers to city positions. Jeff Harvill was promoted to water superintendent, having spent the last 15 years with the City of Ephrata in various positions. Ryan Johnson was appointed to be a utility maintenance worker in the Public Works Department. He comes from Washington State Parks where he was a ranger and will begin at the end of the month.

Rebecca Pettingill is a freelance writer and photographer based in Ephrata.

    One of the Ephrata water holding tanks for the potable water system above the city on Beeezley Hill. To flow from this source tank to the other side of the city, water must go downhill, cross the lower part of downtown, then go uphill to meet the needs of the southeastern side of town. Residents have previously complained about low water pressure, but improvements to the system are expected to level pressure across the city.