The city of Battle Ground is employing a focused strategy to address the current, near and long-term potable water needs of the community. The approach incorporates investment in existing wells, a supplemental water source, conservation, and a new source of water that will meet the needs of the community well into the future.
The city’s water well production system is limited to its current 8 wells, including one emergency only back-up well. To maximize output, the city performs ongoing maintenance and has invested in the rehabilitation of wells producing below standard. The city supplements its water production by purchasing a limited amount of water from Clark Public Utilities over an intertie. Water conservation programs, such as this summer’s voluntary odd/even watering schedule, sustains water levels during peak demand. These efforts support the city’s current and short-term water capacity needs.
Battle Ground’s long-term potable water needs are being addressed through a collaborative and regional approach with the Paradise Point Regional Water Supply System Project. The Clark Public Utilities project is designed to provide a sustainable source of water to the cities of Battle Ground and La Center, and to unincorporated areas of north Clark County served by Clark Public Utilities. The project is critical to meet the demands of forecasted residential and commercial growth as well as economic development opportunities in Battle Ground and in the broader north Clark County region.
At full build-out, Paradise Point will include a wellfield capable of producing 14.4 million gallons of water per day – enough to sustain the north Clark County region for many years to come. The total cost of Clark Public Utilities’ Paradise Point project is approximately $33.5 million. Battle Ground’s proportionate share is approximately $8.5 million.
The project will include a transmission line from the new water source northwest of La Center, through Clark Public Utilities’ service area in unincorporated Clark County, to Battle Ground’s west-end water delivery system. The timeline for completion of the transmission line, however, has not been determined.
In the interim, the city and Clark Public Utilities have collaborated to advance a portion of the project needed to meet Battle Ground’s near-term water needs. The solution also allows the city to delay its full $8.5 million investment share in the project.
The city will make an initial investment in the Paradise Point project of $500,000 this year and another $1.2 million in 2019; Clark Public Utilities will provide an additional 1.44 million gallons per day of water capacity through an existing line to a temporary intertie line with the city. The temporary intertie, expected to be online by early 2020, will meet the city’s water capacity needs for at least 5 years while construction of the permanent transmission line is completed. The two-year investment totaling $1.7 million will be credited toward the city’s total proportionate share of $8.5 million.
The Battle Ground City Council supports the plan and took formal action on June 18th to fund the initial $500,000 investment with a portion of the Water System Development Charge (SDC) Fund. Water SDC fees are assessed and collected at the time of new development to offset the cost of the development’s share of water system capacity.