Pateros wins AWC Municipal Excellence Award

“When the city of Pateros discovered that the most feasible location for a pump station needed for wildfire defense was the same site already slated for a public green space linking a waterfront park with the business district, the project was designed to successfully meet both needs,” said an AWC media release. “Now a raised walkway, green space, and community pavilion share space with a reliable water source backed by an emergency generator.”

The site also features landscaping that facilitates improved stormwater collection and sanitary control to reduce water supply contaminants.

Construction on the pump station began in May 2019 as a piece of the city’s $7.2 million Infrastructure Project that originated in 2014 and is scheduled for completion this year. City Administrator Jord Wilson said the $1,491,730.86 construction cost of the pump station came from multiple funding sources including:

● $921,884.32 Economic Opportunity Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Washington Department of Commerce.

● $371,790.68 Rural Development Loan.

● $106,700 Washington State Direct Appropriations grant.

● $91,355.86 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for backup electrical generation.

As is often the case the pump station was not built where originally planned.

“It was planned to go on Industrial Way, however the driller hit bad water at that site,” said Wilson. “We had several backup locations identified but the Department of Health (DOH) would not approve them.”

Wilson said a municipal well site must be a minimum of 100 feet radius and 200 feet from the water to control contamination issues.

“Pateros is pretty limited on potential municipal well sites that meets DOH sanitary requirements,” Wilson said.

The downtown pump station is the second of two and under normal operation pumps about 1,000 gallons per minute (gpm) with the well capable of providing close to 2,500 gpm. Under extreme demand the two stations can produce more than 2,000 gpm.

“The Pateros business community had numerous planning sessions with a WSU planning team following the 2014 Carlton Complex fires,” said Wilson. “These meetings were well attended and developed a downtown plan to add green space and increase connectivity between Memorial Park and the mall business district.”

In 2017 the city decided to locate a pump station in that planned space.

“The city used this planning effort as a guide to meet the needs of the downtown business community while providing a reliable source of water for the city,” said Wilson. “Although the city did not feel a pump station in the center of downtown was desirable, the end result produces a multifunctional space and greatly enhances downtown Pateros.”

Pateros was among 25 applicants for the AWC award. The annual competition is open to any Washington city or town. Other 2020 winners included:

● Lacey Veterans Services Hub.

● Anacortes Fiber Installation into Active Water Lines.

● The Hangar at Town Square in Kenmore.

● Pasco African American Historic Properties.

Founded in 1933, AWC is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that represents Washington cities and towns.

“This year’s projects demonstrate some of the ways that Washington’s city leaders are applying innovative solutions to their diverse needs,” said Peter B. King, AWC CEO. “I hope these will be a source of ideas and inspiration throughout the state.”