Grant to help Basin City fix water system

BASIN CITY -- It's been a long time coming.

After eight years of work, Basin City's aging water system will get a badly needed upgrade with a $1 million state grant for the Basin City Water and Sewer District project.

Franklin County commissioners this week approved a contract with James A. Sewell & Associates LLC of Spokane for the project engineering. The county is administering the grant for the district.

Doris Barnett, Basin City Water and Sewer District clerk, said the grant will allow the district to tie together two wells serving the main part of the city and the two wells that serve the Basin City Mobile Home Park. A portion of the 40-year-old system also will be upgraded.

The system serves 229 households and businesses, about 770 people, she said.

Construction will begin in spring and be completed this summer, she said.

The upgrade will solve the mobile home park's issues with high levels of nitrates in the water, Barnett said.

Basin City residents formed the district in 2004 to provide water and sewer services to residents. It wasn't until March 14, 2008, that the district bought the water system, which was privately owned, Barnett said. An $800,000 state grant paid for the purchase.

Before, the system was owned by someone who did not live in the community and was not well-maintained, she said.

The district still has plans for a second and third phase after this work is completed. The second phase would finish upgrading all the pipes and insulating them and the third would add a water tower, Barnett said.

The water tower would expand the system's capacity and allow growth, Barnett said.

The district will have to rely on grants for additional work, she said. Its only income comes from water charges, which amount to about $104,000 a year.

Also Wednesday:

w Commissioners agreed to install an earth fill and culvert to replace Klamath Bridge near Basin City. Tim Fife, county public works director, said the 20-year-old bridge is too narrow. The South Columbia Irrigation District would share the cost, estimated at $120,000 to $150,000, he said.

w Commissioners updated the county six-year transportation plan so the public works department can have the East Foster Wells extension ready for stimulus funding. It would extend East Foster Wells to the Pasco-Kahlotus Road, creating a second arterial route.

The county will seek about $800,000 from the second federal stimulus. Commissioners agreed to reduce the county's request from $1 million with the hope East Foster Wells and Pasco's $1 million request for an overlay of Road 68 would be funded.