City of Elgin planning municipal water system overhaul
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, March 27th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
ELGIN – Business Oregon recently announced 13 Community Development Block Grants totaling 11 million dollars to support various rural communities across Oregon. Among the projects, the City of Elgin was selected to receive $2,212,491 dollars to help modernize the city’s public water system.
According to City Administrator Alex McHaddad, the city’s public water system is aging, and is beginning to face issues with water circulation, pressure reliability, and supply reliability. The project, now supported by business Oregon grant, would address Elgin’s most urgent water issues via a two-part program for water supply and water distribution improvements. The goal is to fully modernize the city’s water system, update regulations, improve efficiency, and “ensure a safe, reliable supply of water for residents, businesses, and fire protection.”
For more details on the project, see the following narrative supplement from the city’s original grant application (provided by McHaddad for media use):
Elgin CDBG Narrative Supplement
Opportunity/Problem
The City of Elgin’s public water system is aging and faces multiple challenges affecting water circulation, pressure, and supply reliability. Mechanical, electrical, and control deficiencies exist across the City’s three drinking water wells (#2, #3, and #4), requiring upgrades to meet regulatory standards. The absence of accurate flowmeters impedes compliance, while outdated electrical systems, pump/motor components, and HVAC systems further reduce reliability.
In the distribution network, several issues compromise service and safety. Homes on the north side experience water pressure that exceeds Oregon plumbing code, posing risks to residential plumbing. Fire hydrants throughout town provide inadequate pressure and flow, falling far below the required 1,000 gallons per minute, jeopardizing both regulatory compliance and system flushing needs. Outdated radio-read water meters limit leak detection and delay conservation measures, resulting in water loss and higher maintenance costs. Aging, undersized, and leak-prone water lines contribute to further inefficiency, with one failing pipe repeatedly causing hillside erosion. Additionally, a lack of isolation valves forces large portions of the town to endure water shutoffs during repairs or system modifications. The City’s elevation changes and growing distribution system also necessitate implementation of Pressure Reduction Stations/ Valves.
Proposal/Solution
The proposed project addresses the City of Elgin’s most urgent water system deficiencies through a two-part program of water supply improvements and water distribution improvements.
Water Supply Improvements: Work will be completed on the City’s three drinking water wells—#2, #3, and #4. All three will receive HVAC upgrades, electrical and control system improvements, updated instrumentation, new airlines and transducers, accurate flowmeters, and the removal and reset of pump, motor, and column assemblies. In addition, Well #1 will undergo removal of the existing diesel engine assembly, modification of the engine-to-line connection, and replacement of outdated mercury switchgear. Well #2 will be fitted with a new vertical turbine well pump, motor, and column to restore capacity and reliability.
Water Distribution Improvements: The distribution network will be upgraded to improve pressure management, fire protection, and service reliability. Outdated water meters across the system will be replaced with cellular-read meters to enable real-time monitoring and leak detection. Approximately 15 hydrants will be replaced to restore adequate pressure and flow, ensuring compliance with fire safety standards. Pressure-reducing valves will be installed where residential plumbing is currently exposed to unsafe levels, and new isolation valves will be added to minimize the scope of service interruptions during repairs. Aging and undersized water lines will be replaced or lined, including segments where repeated breaks have caused hillside erosion.
Together, these improvements will modernize Elgin’s water system, restore compliance with state and federal regulations, improve efficiency, and ensure a safe, reliable supply of water for residents, businesses, and fire protection.
Detail Project Description
The project can be broken into two primary categories of construction work – water supply improvements and water distribution system improvements.
Water supply improvement are limited to the City’s three drinking water wells – Well #2, #3, and #4. Improvements on all three wells include: HVAC improvements, electrical upgrades, controls and instrumentation upgrades, painting, new airlines and transducers, new flowmeters, removal and reset of motor, pump and column. Unique to Well #1; improvements include removal of the existing diesel engine assembly and modification of the engine-to-line connection. Also, updating the existing mercury switch gear. Unique to Well #2; improvements include a new vertical turbine well pump, motor, and column.
Water distribution improvements include water meter, water line, hydrant, and pressure-related improvements to maintain compliance and improve reliability. The project map illustrates all the locations where the City will be replacing or lining existing water mainlines. In addition, approximately 15 hydrants will be replaced. Water meters throughout town will be replaced with cellular-read meters. Pressure-relief and isolation valves will also be installed through the City to maintain compliance with plumbing codes and maintain drinking water reliability during breaks, maintenance, and development events.
Engineering, Grant Administration, Labor Standards, Environmental Publication, Legal/Publishing, and Construction are expected budget line items. Additive alternatives have been developed in the case of low bids, higher bids than anticipated, or additional funding received. The Base Bid is developed in line with CDBG’s available funding.
