Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
WHITMAN COUNTY – Five entities in Whitman County have been approved for nearly $3 million in funding from the state Department of Ecology for clean water projects.
Municipalities of Tekoa, Oakesdale, Endicott and Garfield and the Palouse Conservation District have been awarded funding from DOE grants, forgivable loans and low interest loans totaling $2,900,899. Town projects are in regards to wastewater facility work.
The town of Endicott is slated for the most funds with $1,101,256 for infiltration/inflow correction. Scope of work includes installation of 1,500 linear feet of drain line, catch basins and pavement repairs to capture and route basement sump drainage out of the sewers.
The projects also calls for installation of 4,000 linear feet of cured-in-place pipe sewer main line including reconnecting of services and replacement of 800 feet of severely damaged sewer mains and reconnection to existing manholes.
Garfield is funded for $610,643, also for infiltration/inflow correction. Scope of work includes lining of sewer mains at critical locations within the town limits.
According to DOE funding list, this project addresses the key deficiencies in the sewer collection network as documented under a study completed under a CDBG planning only grant and prioritized as part of the Comprehensive Sewer System Plan funded by DOE.
The City of Tekoa is slated for $500,000 for sewer system rehabilitation.
This project will replace the influent lift station to the wastewater treatment plant and abandon the existing siphon leading to the influent lift station which has been determined to be a major source of infiltration and inflow. The project will include design of the improvements, permitting and construction costs.
Oakesdale's project is funded for $189,000. The overall purpose of the funding is to prepare and submit a Wastewater Facility Plan which includes a section on disinfection and prepare and submit collection system evaluation and proposed corrective action for infiltration/inflow.
According to the DOE list, the town will need to purchase additional equipment to complete the above requirements, including two sewer flow monitors, sewer main line inspection camera and two composite wastewater samplers.
The Palouse Conservation District is funded for $500,000 for its The Water Quality Saga: A Cost-Share-nary Tale project. PCD will lead the implementation of a minimum of 10 acres of riparian buffers and 6,750 acres of direct seeding to improve water quality in Whitman County streams.
Monitoring efforts will focus on changes in crop residue cover with conservation farming to determine water quality benefits.
Outreach and eduction programs to further improve water quality will include newsletters, articles, educational displays and the Alternative Cropping Symposium.
The funding is part of $23 million awarded for clean water projects in the eastern region of the state and $216 million statewide.
Jana Mathia is a reporter at the Whitman County Gazette.
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