TD Council takes first big step toward water conservation

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles City Council unanimously approved purchase of $950,000 of pipe and supplies to replace the failing Dog River Pipeline in its watershed on Monday, Feb. 14.

The winning bidder for the project was Core and Main LP.

The pipeline project has been on the books for years as the century-old wooden line has been leaking like a sieve, up to a million gallons a day during peak surface water demand days.

The new pipeline is planned to be designed for 100-year service life and could increase the system's daily water diversion from 8 million gallons to 17 million gallons.

The greatest leakage occurs in the spring when the pipeline is running full. It has been estimated that leakage may be as high as 1 million gallons per day under these conditions, which is about 12% of the existing pipeline capacity. 

The section of the pipeline is approximately 3.5 miles long and has a 20-inch diameter. Public Works Director David Anderson said the new line will allow for greater operational flexibility as the city utilizes both surface and well water in supplying the city and commercial industry.

Councilor Dan Richardson

The pipeline will also augment the city’s ability to supply millions of gallons of water daily to future Google data plants if built. Current plans call for storing surface water in The Dalles Groundwater Reservoir via wells on Google property in the Port of The Dalles. 

Google has agreed to pay for $28.5 million in City Water upgrades in preparation for bringing the data plants online.

Councilor Dan Richardson congratulated Public Works Director Dave Anderson on getting the bid at $200,000 below the engineer’s estimate.

“Great news,” he said. “Good contracting work. Not often do you get three bids that are so close. So, good communication and staff work there.”

The City has budgeted a total of $10.5 million for the project. Bids and construction are expected to happen in coming months.

In other business, City Council agreed to extend The Dalles 2040 Visioning process for an additional two weeks to give more people a better chance to voice their opinions. 

Rodger Nichols also invoked the council to send a one-page explanation on how to participate in the survey in upcoming city water bills.

Here is the updated timeline for the visioning process.

Skip to my Loo.

During public comments, Judy Merrill told the Council they needed to purchase a public bathroom and place in the downtown corridor for residents as well as tourists. She said one model, called the Loo, had been successful in Portland and was all stainless steel and easier to maintain. She said the price was around $140,000. 

During the discussion, it was noted that bathrooms for the public at the Transit Station on Federal Street were soon to open to the public.

However, City Manager Julie Krueger put a placeholder for $200,000 in the upcoming proposed city budget in the event that an additional public restroom is needed. The restroom will be discussed again at that time. No decision was made.

Councilors also appointed Lindsey Giamei to fill the open position on the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Committee left by Gary Grossman.

Giamei with her husband Tom are owners of the former American Legion building at 201 E. Second Street, which now currently holds their family business The Workshop as well as Gorge City Barbering and Willow and Bark Boutique.