Lewiston, ID- On Monday, March 27, 2023, the Lewiston City Council will consider a resolution declaring an emergency would necessitates the immediate expenditure of public money for the design and construction of an interim solution for water storage in the City of Lewiston’s water system. This declaration is in response to the High Reservoir rupture that occurred on January 18, 2023. Since the event, City staff and consultants have worked diligently to modify the system in order to lift the boil order and to provide clean drinking water during the last couple of months. As temperatures start to rise, the demand for irrigation water will increase and the recent evaluation of the system has indicated that there is currently not enough stored water within the system without the high reservoir to meet the expected demand. If increased demand outpaces the ability of the current system to produce enough water, it will have a detrimental effect, such as depressurized or collapsed pipes and possibly the issuance of another boil water order.
If approved by the council, this declaration will allow the City to expedite the procurement of a contractor who can work with staff to develop an intermediate solution to provide stored water within the system. After a thorough evaluation, it appears the timeliest solution to remedy this situation is the reuse and repair of the existing High Reservoir. Further analysis and design will be required to determine the extent of work that will be necessary to bring the High Reservoir back online, and in what capacity. “The City of Lewiston is committed to finding a timely solution that is safe and will be able to provide clean drinking water to the residents,” Mayor Daniel Johnson also said he appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we navigate the response to this unprecedented event. The City will continue to provide updates as the process moves forward. In the meantime, customers of the City’s water system should prepare for irrigation restrictions. Additional detail regarding irrigation restrictions will be provided as more information is gained throughout the process.
“I look forward to the opportunity to work with our customers as we navigate this challenging situation,” Mayor Johnson said. “It will take effort from all of us to get through it successfully.”
