Palouse lists finalists for water system

The town of Palouse is now selecting an engineer to tackle the town’s comprehensive water system plan.

The town seeks to develop an extensive water system plan that will map out water infrastructure, pinpoint future city water projects and detail past water projects.

Torrence Engineering from Cashmere, Anderson Perry from Walla Walla, Taylor Engineering from Pullman and Keltic Engineering from Lewiston are the final candidates for the job, said Connie Newman, head of the council water/sewer committee.

The committee will make its final recommendation to the town council by the first council meeting in April.

The high end cost estimate for the project is $50,000, Newman said. Part of the funding will come from a recently increased overage fee on water bills. For every 100 cubic feet of extra water used over a certain limit, the city now charges an extra 25 cents. Newman said that change will soon bring in an additional $9,500 every year which will go toward the water system plan.

After the engineer is selected, the committee and the engineer will meet with the Department of Health within the next three months to present a pre-plan on the project.

Newman said the plan will pinpoint a vision of the water infrastructure for the city. For example, the plan will list a new water tower on the town’s South Hill as one upcoming project.

The plan will include a history of the town’s water system, such as additions of piping and water towers over the years.

Newman pointed out a large amount of the hours of putting the plan together will be completed by city public works staff and the water and sewer committee members. Each of these individuals is working on a certain aspect of the plan.