City wades into water plans

The City of Shelton is awash in water matters.

At its Aug. 15 meeting, the Shelton City Council gave preliminary approval to a wastewater facility plan and a water plan. The updated plans, required by the state, can receive final approval at the council meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 5.

At that meeting, the council will have public hearings on adopting proposed water and sewer rates. Information on the proposed ordinances can be viewed at sheltonwa.gov/UtilityRates. Residents can comment at the hearings or write comments to the city clerk by emailing [email protected].

The city's wastewater plan was last updated in 2008 or 2009, said Jay Harris, the city's public works director.

"It addresses the city's needs for wastewater collection, transmission, treatment, re-use of some and disposal for a 20-year period," he said.

The proposed document includes a six-year capital improvement plan for the wastewater treatment plant capital improvements totaling $11.2 million. The most expensive item is $6.7 million for an additional aerobic digester proposed for 2024.

The city is trying to get its water and water treatment fees in line with other Washington towns, Harris said.

"We want to make sure our fees are reasonable," Harris said. "I know they're high because of the past debt and that, but we still need to keep watching that, with our rates."

The proposed updates to the city's water system comprehensive plan includes a 20-year capital improvement plan, water efficiency goals, and a list of near-term projects and how they will be funded.

The recommended water storage projects include adding water storage reservoirs in the Mountain View, Upper Mountain View and Angleside neighborhoods.

"Ultimately, we need to improve our storage systems at the city," Harris said.

Also, "we need to put in a new well in the next 20 years, not immediately," he said.

The proposed plan updates include pump station improvements for Angleside, Capitol Hill and Upper Mountain View.