May 28, 2025

A $3M infusion for public works water projects

Photo via US Army Corps of Engineers [enlarge]

The funding will support the evaluation of reservoir and booster pump stations in the city of Grand Coulee. The Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River is pictured.

The Washington state Public Works Board (PWB) recently announced $3.3 million in grants and low interest loans to support nine public works projects in seven counties. These projects will improve local health and safety, the board says.

The biggest award, of $1 million, is going to Sunnyside, a small town southeast of Yakima. The town will use the money (which consists of $500,000 in grants and $500,000 as a low-interest loan) to complete critical repairs at the Sunnyside wastewater treatment plant.

The plant recently suffered an equipment failure, and this emergency funding is necessary to stabilize the plant's ability to manage methane gas and alleviate the potential for explosion.

The plant processes 1.2 million gallons of domestic sewage per day.

The remaining $2.3 million in PWB funding will support the planning and design of drinking water and sewer projects in Clallam, Douglas, Grant, Grays Harbor, King and Pend Oreille counties.

Those projects are as follows:

Clallam County:

• Public Utility District No. 1 of Clallam County is receiving $756,735 for the Clallam Bay/Sekiu Reservoir Improvements project. The money will be used for design engineering and permitting for the construction of two above-ground reservoirs to improve water system reliability.

Douglas County:

• City of Bridgeport is getting $91,250 for the Bridgeport Water System Plan project. PWB funding will be used to create a water system plan. Priorities are supplying safe and reliable drinking water and facilitating expected growth.

Grant County:

• The city of Grand Coulee was awarded $65,500 for the Grand Coulee Reservoir and Booster Station Condition and Capacity Analysis project. Using PWB funds, the city will evaluate its water system, focusing on reservoirs and booster pump stations, many of which were built 50 to 85 years ago and are beyond their useful life.

• The town of Coulee City will receive $58,000 for the Coulee City Small Water System Management Plan. The town will identify deficiencies in its water system and prepare for improvements to ensure safe, reliable drinking water.

• The city of Soap Lake has been awarded $95,500 for the Soap Lake Wastewater Facility Plan. The city will use PWB funds to complete a wastewater facility plan, which will guide future work on reliable wastewater treatment.

Grays Harbor County:

• City of Westport is getting $80,000 for the Westport Water Storage Study. The city's available water storage is considered deficient by approximately 1.4 million gallons. PWB funds will be used to plan for adequate water storage, which is critical to maintain water availability during emergencies, droughts or other water shortages.

King County:

• City of Bothell will receive $250,000 for the Maywood Water Reservoir Replacement Design project. The Maywood Hills water reservoir is over 60 years old and no longer provides sufficient storage or pressure. PWB funds will assist in the design of the replacement reservoir, improving water quality and pressure.

Pend Oreille County

• City of Newport has been awarded $920,000 for the Newport Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements project. The city plans to design environmental and health and safety improvements for this wastewater treatment plant.

In related news, the PWB recently opened applications for construction, pre-construction and emergency projects. Up to $100.3 million is available for construction projects. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 8, and $7.5 million each is available for pre-construction and emergency infrastructure projects. Applications for these project types will be accepted until funds are exhausted.

More information is at https://tinyurl.com/PWB2025funding.