The Port of Walla Walla has initiated the development of a new
public water system to serve the Burbank area.
Congress has approved a $750,000 grant to
help fund the project. Additional dollars will come from the
Port District’s capital budget and pending public works
grants and loans from Washington State agencies.
Port District President Ken Jantz said first
work on the system, the drilling of |
a primary well, is already underway. Construction of the pumping
and distribution system is expected to be completed in 2006.
In addition to providing water for the Port’s
light industrial park at Burbank, the system is designed to
interconnect with neighboring community districts that are now
struggling to provide water that meets minimum Washington State
Department of Health standards. |
Port
officials said that its public water system will provide “wholesale”
potable water to existing water districts for distribution to
their customers. The Port emphasized that it is not planning
to take over any existing water system.
Development of the industrial site, according
to the Port, will diversify the tax base in Burbank and provide
an opportunity for the creation of new family-wage jobs. |
