Port of Othello reservoir scheduled for 2025 construction

OTHELLO — A project to build a second water reservoir at the Port of Othello facility in Bruce is scheduled to go out to bid in early 2025. 

Port commissioner Homer Montemayor told Adams County Commissioners on Tuesday that the design for the $6.25 million project is approaching 90% completion. Executive Director Chris Faix said Wednesday that 90% completion is required before the project can be advertised for bid.  

Construction is scheduled to begin sometime in spring or early summer 2025, Faix said.  

The new reservoir will hold about 200,000 gallons of water for use by the port’s industrial customers, which would double the system’s capacity. It’s only available for use by industrial customers.  

“It’s potable water, but it’s industrial water,” Faix said.  

The port has about 100 acres of undeveloped land at its Bruce industrial park, and Faix said development is stymied until the port improves water flow for fighting fires. 

“We have plenty of water, plenty of water rights. We just need (the second reservoir) for fire flow,” he said.  

The new reservoir will connect to the existing system, which will improve water pressure for all port customers as well as upgrade the fire system. Water lines will be added to the 100 undeveloped acres.  

“It’s a good and needed thing,” Faix said.  

The port received a combination of a grant and loan from the Community Economic Revitalization Board for the project, $3.75 million as a loan and $1.25 million through a grant. The port was required to match the grant with $1.25 million of its own. Repayment of the loan starts five years after project completion, and Faix said that should give the port time to build up some money.  

There’s not yet an estimated total cost, Faix said. 

“It is a $6.25 million project, but it could go a little higher,” he said. 

The upgraded water system should improve the port’s ability to attract new customers, he said. The industrial park will have adequate water and electricity, but natural gas availability is limited. Faix said port officials haven’t been able to the natural gas supply, and that does place some limitations on possible customers. 

Nevertheless, the port has had interest from companies looking to locate in the industrial park, he said.  

“We’ve had a handful of companies (inquire), what we call kicking the tires,” he said.  

The goal is to find a long-term tenant rather than selling parcels within the park, Faix said, although there will be an option to purchase