Pateros drills third well site; debuts pump station design

PATEROS – Drilling for city wells by Blue Star Enterprises Northwest of Richland began last month when the commercial well driller sunk the first casing at a site on the south side of East Industrial Way north of South Dawson Street.

When the strong presence of creosote was found between five and 20 feet down, the city brought in a backhoe to excavate the site and determine the source of the creosote. Pateros City Administrator Jord Wilson said the city’s original plan called for the Industrial Way site, with the blessing of the state Department of Health, to be the location for two city wells.

While residue of railroad ties was found, no ties were discovered and further inspection revealed the area to be the former site of an old warehouse or packing shed adjacent to the railroad tracks. Wilson said the basement of the structure may have been used for apple storage.

“Likely there were some railroad ties in that basement,” said Wilson. “We pulled the casings and abandoned the site.”

Wilson said the city had identified 16 potential well sites with hydro-geo surveys and pulled well logs to prioritize those locations that promised the best quality and quantity of water.

The next drill site near the corner of Pearl Street and East Warren Avenue produced “lots of good water,” said Wilson. “We will do pump tests this week and do water quality tests as that time.”

Pateros needs a minimum of three wells so that one can serve as a backup for the other two and be available for peak usage periods, Wilson said.

Another potential well site at Lakeshore and Warren was rejected by DOH, so the city settled on the parking mall across from Memorial Park for its third location. Several DOH requirements helped narrow down that site.

“We have to be 200 feet from the river and have a 200-foot diameter for sanitary control, said Wilson. “When you start dropping 200-foot diameter circles in Pateros you are really limited.”

An option to locate a well near the car wash would have deprived the downtown of the last premium retail space that connects to the mall, Wilson said.

The present site dovetails with expansion plans proposed by local businesses.

“Right after the wildfire the business community got together,” said Wilson. “They wanted to connect the mall to the park, expand green space and reduce pavement.” 

That thinking inspired a multi-use pump station concept that would be more than just a cinder block single-use building. As the accompanying concept design shows, the new structure will incorporate an Interpretive Center with a stage, greenery, landscaping and walkways that connect the mall to the park.

Wilson said he met with the Apple Pie Jamboree Committee and it was agreed to move the popular three-on-three basketball tournament onto the street and food vendors can also utilize the street as a food court.

“We will have a pump station there,” said Wilson. “We’re still taking suggestions about what else to include with it.”

Leftover funds from two grants will allow the city to proceed with development while the state Legislature wrestles with approval of the Capital Facilities Budget (CFB). A third federal Committee Development Block Grant is tied to CFB funding.

“We will run out of money in February,” said Wilson. “If the capital budget has not passed by then the city may look at getting a loan.”

In a meeting with the Quad last Friday, State Senator Brad Hawkins expressed hopes to see an approved CFB no later than January 2018.