Water storage, diking issues concern PUD

The PUD met Tuesday to discuss the Puget Island Water System (PIWS) and other issues.

Cathlamet Mayor Dick Swart told the board the council has decided to submit a draft water plan to the state Departments of Health and Ecology. He said the engineers have forecasted that there is enough water from single surface source of the Elochoman to meet the needs of mainland and Puget Island customers. However, exploration of additional storage, like an above ground reservoir, or another source was recommended.

Commissioner Bob Jungers told Swart about pressure from the Department of Health to modify the system on the Island. He said that the contract the PUD has with the town is somewhat ambiguous on whether or not there is a right to build storage.

He asked Swart if he anticipated having a problem with the city concerning the building of a storage facility.

Swart responded he didn’t believe so, but he had not spoken with the town’s attorney about the contract. He also said there would be other elements in the contract to be investigated.

Gray and Osborne Civil Engineer Mike Johnson discussed plans for the updating of the PIWS. He told the board that in 2007 the estimated population of Puget Island served 1,212 customers. A projected population increase said that by 2027, the population of the island could be 1,632.

He told the board that the goal for water use efficiency is a one percent reduction per capita use, per year for 10 years. One of the ideas of consumption reduction Johnson presented would be to show on customers' bills a comparison of how much they use from month to month.

He suggested a need for water storage for the town. He said that the water may not be needed today but it makes sense to the community to consider where the additional water sources will come from.

The town, Johnson said, has existing water rights to Abe and Cougar Creek that could be used. If a well were drilled, new water rights would need to be obtained, or existing rights would need to be transferred.

Manager Dave Tramblie discussed the Army Corps of Engineers letter to the diking district stating they will no longer allow pressurizing crossing of the dike on Puget Island. He told the board that a Puget Island resident gave him a copy of a letter written to the diking district from the corps denying the use of the pipe.

After some research, he said to the best of his knowledge the person who had signed the letter was new to the position, and perhaps he should be contacted and informed about the situation on the Island. He said perhaps the diking district has someone that can deal directly with the individual to come to a consensus.