Subject
This action will approve a new 20-Year Water System Master Plan.
Summary and Background
An up to date water system master plan (WSMP) is required of all public water systems in Oregon. These plans are useful in many ways, including inventorying all water sources, delivery piping, and storage infrastructure, and outlining a systematic way of maintaining, or expanding them depending on the community’s needs. The existing master plan for the City of Hermiston’s water system was adopted in 1996, when Hermiston’s population was estimated at 10,332. With Hermiston’s population now standing at 18,200, many of the system expansions identified in the existing document have been completed. With population forecasts from Portland State University projecting Hermiston to add approximately 6,500 more residents within the next 20 years, this update to the WSMP is very important to ensure a logical and cost-efficient build-out of additional water infrastructure while maintaining existing assets to serve current customers.
Anderson Perry & Associates were retained to update Hermiston’s WSMP, and began working on it in mid-2017. Work on the WSMP dovetailed well with the creation of the first ever Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for all public works departments. Adoption of the CIP coincided with adoption of new water and sewer rates to appropriately finance the necessary improvements. The five-year CIP includes the highest priority projects shown in the WSMP. As the CIP is updated every two years, the first place where projects will be pulled from to populate years 4 and 5 of the plan is the WSMP.
The full 673 page WSMP can be viewed temporarily here https://andersonperry-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/p/ctisdall/EcuUFJALJ6VOiaNq4kFpXJoBzCwiWiGF46np5so3XWHdWA?e=l4Lgv2 Or can be viewed at City Hall.
The document outlines many necessary improvements through the system, but the highest priority needs are:
Water Supply
New 750’ Deep Well No. 7 $400,000
New well pump station and piping to future SW Reservoir $1,020,000
Water Storage
New 1MG NE Reservoir and associated pump and piping upgrades $4,580,000
New 2MG SW Reservoir $3,300,000
Water Distribution
High Priority Distribution System Improvements (detailed in report) $3,115,000
Medium Priority Distribution System Improvements (detailed in report) $1,880,000
The WSMP, including all of its recommendations, have been reviewed and approved by the Oregon Department of Drinking Water services, and now requires formal adoption by the City Council.
Tie-In to Council Goals:
Proper Management of City-Owned Infrastructure.
Fiscal Information
Approval of this plan does not directly approve any specific projects, but provides city staff with direction to pursue the various top priority projects further. Council will still be required to approve all major improvement contracts as they arise.
The total estimated cost of the recommended improvements shown in this WSMP is approximately $14,295,000. It is anticipated that the recent water rate adjustments, including the new annual CPI indexing adjustments, will provide the water system with adequate cashflow to complete the recommended projects within the planning horizon.
Alternatives and Recommendation
Alternatives
1. Approve the 2019 Water System Master Plan
2. Direct staff to bring back changes to the 2019 Water System Master Plan for additional consideration.
Recommendation
1. Approve the 2019 Water System Master Plan.
Requested Action/Motion
Motion to approve the 2019 Water System Master Plan.
Submitted By: Mark Morgan