City to ration its owned properties as malfunctioning Well No. 9 pump waits to be reinstalled

Due to a malfunctioning pump motor, the City of Ritzville’s Well No. 9 has been out of service recently, according to a news release from Mayor Gary Cook.

The city is currently working with contractors to have the motor reinstalled by next week. Cook said that he and Larry Swift, the Public Works Director, are assessing the situation on a daily basis and determined to ration the city’s owned properties to allow for the reserve water tank to fill back up each day.

“The City takes pride in our parks, cemetery and golf course but during these times they will not look as green due to the water rationing,” said Cook in the news release. “By rationing city properties and reducing other entities water consumption, we are able to maintain water use for our citizens.”

Cook thanked the Lind-Ritzville School District for also offering to ration their water as the city waits for the Well No. 9 pump to be reinstalled.