City water system work underway

RITZVILLE – Revisions to the city's water distribution system got a later-than-expected start this summer, but the project is finally moving forward.

"The project includes about 5,000 feet of new water main and a dozen or so valve replacements at various intersections throughout town," contractor Ben Varela of Varela and Associates said during a March 7 City Council meeting,.

At that time, he estimated construction would start by early June at a final cost of $2-$2.5 million.

But the project didn't start in June.

Public Works Director Dave Breazeale and Varela had hashed out a design for the project earlier, but they noted it's generally the same construction scheme started a decade ago.

As reported in the June 20, 2013 edition of The Journal, the original water line improvements involved replacement of 10,000 lineal feet of water main throughout the city and the fairgrounds on West Main Avenue. That included connecting a new water main to the Division Street supply line and replacing a 24-inch storm drain system underneath West First Avenue.

The original project targeted additional water lines on Main Avenue, Broadway Avenue, Lincoln Street, Jefferson Street, Cascade Street, Seventh Avenue, Ninth Avenue, Tenth Avenue and Weber Road.

The contract was awarded to Halme Construction of Spokane, and by October of that year construction crews had replaced a portion of the city's aging water delivery system.

The current project continues that effort.

Five bids were opened May 18, 2023, with base bids ranging from a low $1.71 to $2.37 million.

The city awarded the contract to the lowest responsive bidder, Pipe of Washington, Inc. of Pasco.

Mayor Linda Kadlec signed the contract with POW Contracting in late July, and at the Aug. 15 council meeting Breazeale reported that the water distribution project was underway. He expected the project to continue into September or as late as November.