Water Storage Improvement Projects
Access to clean water is vital to our community.
EWEB is hard at work making sure safe, reliable water continues to flow even as critical infrastructure ages and new challenges arise. In the next decade, we plan to construct new water storage facilities near 40th Ave. and Donald St. and replace the water storage systems at EWEB's College Hill and Hawkins Hill sites. The projects will be built to seismic and contemporary operating standards, providing more than 40 million gallons of resilient, safe water storage.
Dear East 40th Neighbors,
Thank you to everyone who provided input to DOWL for the ecological study at the site. We expect to have the report back from DOWL by early December and will share it with neighbors.
Additional geotech work next week
A contractor will be on-site Nov. 9 - 13 to complete additional geotechnical investigations.
Geotechnical investigations are used to evaluate the physical characteristics of the underlying soil and help determine appropriate excavation methods. In early 2019, a preliminary investigation indicated that blasting would be recommended at the E. 40th site.

Next week, another contractor will be on-site to perform an additional round of geotechnical work and provide a second opinion.

We want to ensure we are able to provide a thorough analysis of site characteristics to the contractor who will eventually determine the type of excavation that will be used.

In our experience, contractors are sometimes reticent to use blasting because of extra safety requirements and specialized staffing who have to be on site to monitor the work. However, if the rock is too hard, mechanical excavation could be even more difficult, longer and louder than blasting.

If blasting is to be used:
 
  • We will be very proactive in informing and preparing neighbors with information about when, where and how blasting would take place
  • Only proven and safe methods will be used
  • Steps will be taken to prevent damage and minimize impacts on neighbors and the environment
 
We know neighbors are very interested to learn more about the excavation and construction process and timeline. We expect to have these details in the spring of 2021, once we hire a construction contractor through the public bidding and contract award process. 

Construction is expected to begin in mid-2021. As we get closer to breaking ground, EWEB will develop and share with neighbors a Construction Mitigation Plan that outlines strategies for noise management, dust control, neighborhood safety, and other construction impacts, and also establishes methods for frequent communications with residents.

Neighbors will be given at least three months notice prior to construction activity starting.
What's next?
  • We expect to hold another neighborhood meeting/presentation in late 2020 with a project update and to collect input on the next phase of landscape renderings.
  • A Southeast Neighbors (SEN) meeting/presentation is tentatively planned (date TBD and COVID-19 dependent).
  • Surveyors will mark trees to be removed and tank boundaries in late fall. (Reminder: the existing tree markings are NOT those to be removed.)

As a reminder, the major East 40th project milestones are as follows:
Click here for a larger view of the Project Phases & Timeline.
How to stay informed and involved
Contact the Project Team:
Call 541-685-7899
 
Project information and updates: eweb.org/waterstorage