Backflow Prevention Video
Zone 9 South Improvements
Purpose
Whitworth Water District wishes to inform our customers about the Zone 9 South Improvements project which will be constructed between Summer 2020 and Spring 2021. We will keep you informed of the project status and anticipated impacts of this project so you are able to effectively plan ahead.
Project Need
Through a recent system analysis, it was noted that additional water storage was necessary to meet the projected 20-year growth within the District’s Zone 9 Service Area. Additionally, looping and hydraulic improvements were recommended along Lowe Rd and Howe Rd. These two improvements were incorporated into one project known as the Zone 9 South Improvements project.
Project Description
The project consists of the construction of a new 1.5 million gallon welded steel reservoir with site grading and overflow basin, approximately 1,700 feet of 18” ductile iron waterline, 4,200 feet of 12” PVC waterline, and 800 feet of 8” PVC waterline installed within District property and existing rights of way along Day Mt. Spokane, E. Lowe Rd., and N. Howe Rd.
Project Description
Property located at 7215 E Day Mt Spokane was purchased by the district in early 2020 as a site for the 1.5 million gallon reservoir. This site was selected based on the proximity to the existing Zone 9A reservoir. The similar elevation of the new reservoir allows for the two reservoirs to operate in tandem, providing approximately 2.5 million gallons of useable water during peak demands.
In June of 2020, the project was publicly bid and later awarded to LaRiviere Inc, based out of Athol, Idaho. LaRiviere plans to begin mobilization and the installation of site controls the week of August 10th. Site grading and waterline installation is expected to continue through the fall of 2020. Traffic slowdowns and/or temporary road closures along E. Day Mt. Spokane Rd, E. Lowe Rd., and N. Howe Rd are likely during the waterline installation.
Tank assembly and tank coating will progress through the spring of 2021. It is anticipated that the project will be substantially completed by June of 2021. We will continue to keep you updated during the construction progression.
A Note from the Chairperson
In the time since our last annual newsletter, our lives have been turned upside down by a virus. District staff at Whitworth Water were on top of things from the start, making sure that employees were cross-trained as much as possible in case of illness, and ordering necessary supplies and repair parts well in advance of need. Although our headquarters is closed to the public as I write this, procedures are in place which allow much of district office work to be done remotely. Work also continues on major district projects, including the new well and pump house near the Hastings Park-and-Ride, and a new reservoir.
It has been my pleasure to work with the good folks at Whitworth Water District for these past two and a half years. Kudos are deserved all-around, as they work to ensure that both staff and customers remain healthy and safe, and that we all have uninterrupted access to clean, high-quality water.
Thank you,
Jean Pond
Chairperson
Manager’s Report
Did you know that we experience a ten-fold increase in water demand during the peak summer months compared to any other time of the year? Keeping up with this surge in use due to irrigation, while also keeping supply available for fire protection, becomes tricky. This is where our recently updated Water System Plan helps to pave the way.
The Plan consists of three main areas of analysis: historical and forecasted water demands; system hydraulics and engineering; and financial. The Plan recommendations focus on the areas of our system that require immediate attention while those that are less urgent are able to be completed further down the line.
You will likely see more District construction activity in the coming months as we begin the Plan implementation process. Should you have any questions about a particular project, or would like to discuss any other District matter, please feel free to contact me via email at tim@whitworthwater.com or by phone at (509) 466-0550.
Thank you,
Tim Murrell
General Manager
A Note from the District Superintendent
With summer coming up, we are looking forward to another busy construction season. In addition to various developments under construction last year, we completed three capital improvement contracts totaling approximately $2.5 million in new assets for the District. The 10,000 feet of new 24” transmission main in Mayfair, Farwell and Mill roads will help us supplement the northern areas of the district and provide critical system redundancy as we get our new Well 3D online later this year. The well drilling was successful last year and the construction of the new wellhouse is coming along nicely. We plan to have the well online in July and reduce the load on our existing production wells for peak irrigation season.
Following the Sewer Projects in the Mead and Colbert area last year and more this year, we have made some Capital Improvement Plan schedule changes. With sewer becoming available in new areas, we have decided to accelerate the construction of a new 1.5 million gallon reservoir in this area. It will supplement the District’s storage capacity in the northern and eastern reaches of our service area. We plan to get this project started this summer and to have this new reservoir online in 2021.
We look forward to keeping up our excellent quality of service, and providing our communities with some of the best tasting and cleanest water in the county. Thank you for the being the best customers in the country as well!
Whitworth Water District – Source Redundancy Projects
Whitworth Water District derives its water supply from two separate and distinct ground water formations known as aquifers. Customers in the southern part of the District are served from the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie aquifer (or SVRP) while those customers in the North are served by the Little Spokane River aquifer (or LSR).
Both the SVRP and LSR aquifers provide extremely high-quality water, yet the LSR aquifer is experiencing greater supply constraints due to its lower overall capacity coupled with an increase in domestic and municipal well develop-ment.
In an effort to strengthen long-term water supply redundancy to our customers in the northern part of the District, Whit-worth Water has embarked on a 10-year capital improve-ment plan that will address supply, conveyance, and storage. Water supply enhancements will be accomplished through the construction of two new SVRP production wells, while conveyance is addressed through a nearly five-mile long 24-inch transmission line. Storage will be addressed through two above ground storage reservoirs.
These improvements will provide a significant benefit to District customers through increased capacity and improved system reliability.
Project Funding Assistance – In the spring of 2020, District staff applied for a $1.15 million dollar grant through the Washington Department of Ecology. These funds would help to offset project costs and reduce necessary District contributions.
Look for updates on this and other project related news on our website at www.whitworthwater.com
Important Links
American Water Works Association – “The Authoritative Resource for Safe Drinking Water”
Environmental Protection Agency – Safe Drinking Water – “Protecting human health, safeguarding the natural environment”
Spokane Aquifer Joint Board – “Dedicated to protecting the aquifer through our Wellhead Protection Program and through citizens education and awareness.”
Spokane Regional Solid Waste System – Provides information for disposal, recycling, composting programs, transfer station locations and business assistance.
Spokane County Conservation District – “Preserve and enhance the water resources in Spokane County watershed for the benefit of present and future generations.”
Spokane Smartscape – A landscape approach to conserving water and protecting the environment
DrinkTap.org – An AWWA site for consumers, there’s even a section just for kids!
California Urban Water Conservation Council – “Take the Home Tour to investigate your water saving opportunities in each area of your home.”
EPA Water Sense – “Water Sense makes water conservation easy.” Kids and Teachers will enjoy the fun section just for them!
County Office – An internet database of county government offices in the United States
Avista – Contact information for Avista Utilities
Inland Power – Contact information for Inland Power and Light Company
Spokane County Building Planning – Spokane County Building and Planning
Conservation
Tips on Conserving Water
1. Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back when you lift your foot, it doesn’t need water. Set your sprinklers for more days in between watering. Saves 750 to 1,500 gallons a month.
2. Fix leaky faucets and plumbing joints. Saves 20 gallons a day for every leak stopped.
3. Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. Saves 150 gallons each time. For a two-car family that’s up to 1,200 gallons per month.
4. Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. Saves 500 to 800 gallons a month.
5. Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Saves 300 to 800 gallons a month.
6. Shorten your showers. Even a one or two-minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons a month.
7. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. Save 150 gallons each time. At once a week, that’s more than 600 gallons a month.
8. Don’t use your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Saves 400 to 600 gallons a month.
9. Capture tap water. While you wait for hot water to come down the pipes, catch the water with a water can to use later on house plants or your garden. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
10. Don’t water the sidewalks, driveway or gutter. Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn or garden where it belongs—and only there. Saves 500 gallons a month.
More Indoor Conservation Ideas to Consider…
- Put a plastic bottle weighted with pebbles and filled with water in your toilet tank. Displacing water in this manner allows you to use less water with each flush. Saves up to 300 gallons a month. For even greater savings, replace your water-guzzling five-to-seven-gallon-a-flush toilet with a three-and-a-half gallon, low flush or one-and-a-half-gallon, ultra-low-flush model.
- Take baths instead of showers. A partially filled tub uses less water than all but the shortest showers. Saves 15 to 20 gallons each time.
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Saves three gallons each day.
- Turn off the water while shaving. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor. Saves three gallons each day.
- If you wash dishes by hand don’t leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, fill one with rinse water. If you only have one sink, use a spray device or short blast instead of letting the water run. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
- When washing dishes by hand, use the least amount of detergent possible. This minimizes rinse water needed. Saves 150 gallons a month.
- Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This beats the wasteful habit of running tap water to cool it for drinking. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
- Don’t defrost frozen foods with running water. Either plan ahead by placing frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or defrost them in the microwave. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.
- Don’t let the faucet run while you clean vegetables. Rinse them in a filled sink or pan. Saves 150 to 250 gallons a month.
- Use the garbage disposal less and the garbage can more. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.
More Outdoor Conservation Ideas…
- Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Chunks of bark, peat moss or gravel slows down evaporation. Saves 750 to 1,500 gallons a month.
- If you have a pool, use a pool cover to cut down on evaporation. It will also keep your pool cleaner and reduce the need to add chemicals. Saves 1,000 gallons a month.
- Water during the cool parts of the day. Early morning is better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Saves 300 gallons a month.
- Don’t water the lawn on windy days. There’s too much evaporation. Can waste up to 300 gallons each time.
- Cut down watering on cool and overcast days and don’t water in the rain. Adjust or deactivate automatic sprinklers. Can save up to 300 gallons each time.
- Set mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less evaporation. Saves 500 to 1,500 gallons each month.
- If you have an evaporator air conditioner, direct the water drain line to a flower bed, tree base or lawn.
- If municipal ordinances don’t prohibit it, drive your car onto a lawn to wash it. Rinse water can help water the grass.
- Tell your children not to play with the garden hose. Saves 10 gallons a minute.
- If you are working around the yard, clean up with waterless hand cleaner rather than washing under a steady stream of water. Saves 7 to 10 gallons each time.
