City to keep water running during repairs

By on Friday, March 10th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Pendleton City Council has approved spending more than $50,000 to replace two broken water valves without interrupting service in the area. The city estimates that shutting off water to make the fix would negatively impact an estimated 600 residents in the area between Southwest Hailey Avenue, Southwest 30th Street, and Houtama Road.

City staff requested going with Tap Master, Inc. to do a live installation. City Manager Robb Corbett said that to shut off service to that many residents is a major inconvenience that doesn’t end when water service is restored.

“After you do the work and you turn the water back on, there’s a very extensive cleansing process that you have to go through,” he said.

Part of that cleansing process would have required residents to boil their water for a set period of time. As part of the project, the city will also replace an eight-inch valve on Southwest Goodwin Avenue replaced and add a new 16-inch valve near the intersection of Southwest 30th Street and Southwest 28th Drive.