Medical Lake advances design work on neighborhood water-main replacements to improve fire flow

An engineering representative described a proposed neighborhood water-main improvement project that city staff moved into design this year so construction can proceed in 2027. Staff asked for a $48,000 budget amendment from the Water Restricted Fund to complete survey, engineering and design for the project, which would install a new 8-inch water main to loop the system, replace aging buried galvanized and small-diameter lines, and improve fire flows.

The presenter described recurring service issues in a tightened neighborhood (lines running through yards and alleys, buried shallow galvanized pipes, and difficulty accessing some segments) and said the design phase will help prepare a more straightforward bid and construction schedule next year. Council and staff discussed service reconnections for properties currently fed from backyard mains and the usual methods (boring and reconnection, flushing and tracer wires) to minimize disruption.

Staff said the project had been planned in the capital improvement plan for 2027 but advancing design in 2026 would capitalize on existing locates and survey work; the design costs would be funded from the Water Restricted Fund. Council indicated support for bringing forward the design-phase amendment and for scheduling the full project for construction after design is complete.