YAKIMA, Wash. – Yakima is working on a project to connect more than 100 households to city utilities. This initiative began in June and aims to provide proper water and sewage facilities to underserved communities.
The city says the project will bring much-needed services that will benefit the community’s health in the long run.
This project is supported by a $4.9 million grant from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Drought Resiliency Program. The goal is to connect over 100 households, focusing on the northeast and south-central areas of Yakima.
Randy Beehler with the city of Yakima explained the situation.
“There’s a small pocket there that still is relying on wells for drinking water and septic system for wastewater. In a lot of instances, the septic systems, because of the way the regulations are now at state level, when a septic system fails, then it can’t be replaced. The only option is to look to a domestic wastewater system,” he said.
Beehler also emphasized the impact of Washington’s recent droughts on these facilities, particularly the water wells.
“The wells draw groundwater and in times of drought, that groundwater level falls and falls and falls and falls and falls. So that water may not even be available to people whose property is being serviced by wells. So this is an opportunity to not deplete that groundwater level by drawing water up from wells, but rather using the domestic system,” he said.
He added that the project is about keeping Yakima residents safe and healthy.
“These projects are providing a lot of benefit to these areas. But at the very top of that list is public health. When we can get clean drinking water and we can get sewer systems in place to these areas, it really improves the lives of the folks who live and who live in those areas,” Beehler said.
Phase one of the project is expected to be completed in February of next year. Yakima is currently applying for federal funding for the second phase. Beehler stated they are relatively optimistic and will see how it plays out.
