Southwest Lincoln County Water PUD

SWLCWPUD HISTORY

Southwest Lincoln County Water District was incorporated in 1945 with 5 elected commissioners. The waterworks were started with a bond election and sale to the State of Oregon. This funded the headworks on Starr Creek and Big Creek and a water main north of Big Creek.

In the mid-1950’s a 6-inch water main on Wakonda Beach Road was completed. It ran from Highway 101 to Seahawk Street and opened the area for development.

In 1963, the District acquired funding to make waterworks improvements. These improvements included a 200,000 gallon reservoir at the end of Seabrook Lane, settling tanks at Starr Creek and Big Creek headworks, thirty-five fire hydrants, and the replacement of three thousand feet of water main at the southern boundary.

By 1969, tourism and development made a third water source necessary. A preliminary study on Dicks Fork--a tributary of Big Creek--began. The development included headworks, a settling basin and storage reservoir. The water main on Wakonda Beach Road would be expanded to tie into Seabrook Lane reservoir and to service the district's northern boundary of Waldport city limits.

In 1988, the Water District partnered with Dyer Consulting Engineers (now known as The Dyer Partnership Engineers & Planners Inc) to bring the waterworks up to code following the Safe Drinking Water Act (1977). The SDWA required the routine testing of drinking water and the filtration and disinfection of source water systems to meet health and safety standards. Dyer found SWLCWD's system would need ten miles of water main, three reservoirs, and two treatment plants to meet Federal and State compliance standards.

The scope and complexity of this upgrade prompted the Board to form a District Manager position. The first District Manager was hired in 1993.

The system upgrade was bided out in three parts. Schedule One, the installation of treated and raw water mains, was managed by Skyline Equipment and Utilities. Schedule Two, the construction of three steel reservoirs, was managed by Northwest Pennastore. Schedule Three, the development of two water treatment plants (one for Big Creek, and one for Dicks Fork reservoir site) was managed by The James W. Fowler Co. These projects were completed in 1997.

In the fall of 2002, the Water District purchased a site on Wakonda Beach Road for a 500,000 gallon reservoir with an overflow elevation of 180 feet.

In 2009 emergency generators were installed at the two water treatment plants and two pump stations.

In 2014, the District built a new shop building near the Blodgett Treatment plant. This building is above the tsunami zone, not only enabling SWLCWPUD to better respond to an emergency, but also to serve as a community shelter in the event of a disaster evacuation.

In 2017, after several years of review and discussion, voters approved conversion from a ‘Special District’ to a ‘People’s Utility District’ (or PUD). As a People’s Utility District, SWLCWPUD is directed, managed, and operated locally.

In 2019 the PUD had a Water System Master Plan drafted in accordance with OAR 333-061-0060. The Master Plan provides a comprehensive evaluation of the water system with respect to its existing and future needs and it identifies improvements and associated costs necessary to meet those needs.

In 2022, the PUD applied for state funding for the valve bolt replacement project. This project was identified after two leak incidents in the summer of 2022. The leaks were due to valve failures. The valves failed because the bolts holding them together were corroded and of a sub-standard quality. These bolts were unfortunately used throughout the water system and many will need to be replaced. The PUD will receive $450,000.00 from the state. The funding will be rewarded in the form of an outright grant and a 30 year loan at 1% interest.