Water Utility

The City can use its 60-foot-deep Ranney collector well constructed in 1979, or receive water from the Lower Elwha Water Treatment Plant. Surface water is typically used to prevent the potential blockage of the Ranney collector well system with the transport of sedimentation from the removal of the dams. The Ranney well is capable of producing 10.2 million gallons/day (mgd) of water on a continual basis. During the dry season, the Ranney well has a reduced flow rate due to low river levels. This directly affects the Ranney well’s recharge capabilities, causing the well to operate at the lower end of this range. Municipal water consumption averages between 2 - 4 million gallons/day, depending on the time of year. The City also has 18 million gallons of water storage capacity.

The water system has approximately 189 miles of pipe ranging from 2 to 30 inches in diameter, three water booster pump stations, five reservoirs with 18 million gallons of storage, and about 8,861 service connections.

Water is measured in cubic feet (cf); there are 7.5 gallons in one cubic foot. Your base rate per month is determined by the size of your service line. Most homes have three-quarter inch service with a five-eighths inch meter. The City also supplies water to limited areas outside the city limits. Rates are based on water usage.

Water Agreements

There is a wholesale water agreement with PUD in the eastern Urban Growth Area, and a water service agreement with Dry Creek Water Association in the western Urban Growth Area.