Ephrata's Well 3 remains under repair as more damage discovered
The City of Ephrata discovered a line break in Well 3 Wednesday. On Thursday, while examining the pump, it was then discovered that there was damage to the pump as well.
COURTESY PHOTO/CITY OF EPHRATA
Key Points:
Ephrata’s Well 3 was discovered to have a line break on Wednesday.
On Thursday it was discovered there was damage to the pump as well.
City officials have filled reservoirs 2 and 3 to maximum capacity and are working on filling reservoir 4.
Ephrata residents are asked to conserve water until the well is repaired.
The timeline for repairs is unknown at this time; however, parts have been ordered and are being retrieved by a city employee from Pasco on Thursday.
EPHRATA — The city of Ephrata has issued updates regarding the ongoing emergency repairs to Well 3 following a failure in its supply line Wednesday. Community efforts to conserve water remain critical as city crews work to repair the well, according to a statement from the city.
"We found a broken piece, but we've got to continue. We're going to go ahead and pull the pump all the way out and check it over to make sure that it wasn't damaged," Ephrata Public Works Director Rob Harris said Thursday morning.
Harris acknowledged the urgency of the situation while emphasizing the need for thoroughness in the repair process.
"It just takes time. We want to do it right," he said.
The emergency arose Wednesday when city officials discovered that damaged bearings located approximately 130 feet below ground were responsible for the failure in the supply line.
According to Wednesday's statement, the parts required for repair had been identified and ordered and were in transit to Ephrata. Crews filled reservoirs 2 and 3 to maximum capacity Wednesday, ensuring that the community's water needs could continue to be met as repairs progressed.
As of Thursday afternoon, the situation developed further when crews successfully removed the pump and discovered it was also damaged. The city made the decision to remove the pump fully for a complete inspection. Additionally, replacement parts were located and flown in from out of state, with an employee dispatched to Pasco to retrieve them.
A confirmed timeline for the completion of the repairs was not available Thursday, but city officials indicated that work would likely extend into the weekend. Harris said crews were tentatively planning to begin reinstalling the pump on Friday morning, intending to prepare for water quality sampling early next week.
“We are moving along. We were out there working until around 7 p.m. last night,” he said.
The city continues to encourage community members to conserve water. The ongoing conservation efforts, according to city officials, are essential for managing the current demand on the water system until the well can return to full operational capacity.
Ephrata residents have been asked to remain vigilant about water usage during this period. Despite the challenges posed by the well's failure, the efforts of city crews to maintain reservoir levels have helped alleviate immediate concerns.
The city successfully filled reservoirs 2 and 3 to their maximum capacity and is now focusing on Reservoir 4, according to the statement. These measures are to ensure that even if repairs take longer than anticipated, the community has adequate water resources to meet demand.
The next update from the city is planned for 2 p.m. Friday. Should there be any significant developments before then, city officials said to communicate those findings to the community as soon as possible.
"We appreciate the community's continued efforts to conserve water and reduce overall usage,” Harris said. “These efforts are critical in maintaining our system until full capacity is restored," he said.