SEQUIM – The City of Sequim has received approval from the Washington State Departments of Ecology, Health, and Fish and Wildlife to initiate a pilot project to increase Class “A” Reclaimed Water flows to Bell Creek. The increased flows will augment the lower Bell Creek riparian (ecosystem along the bank of the creek) area and assist agricultural irrigation operations.
In this pilot phase, the additional flow is providing Class “A” reclaimed water for the use of Maple View Dairy Farm’s agricultural pasture irrigation. This reduces the amount of water that would normally be drawn from Bell Creek.
The City installed a pump, constructed approximately 800 feet of pipe line and an energy dissipating waterfall, resulting in an alternate reclaimed water discharge location approximately 500 feet upstream of an agricultural intake pump on the dairy farm property. It is expected that the increased flow to Bell Creek will continue at least through October 2015.
The pilot project was initiated as a result of the drought emergency declared for the east Olympic watersheds by Governor Inslee in March of 2015 and then the state wide emergency declaration in May 2015. This type of system has the potential to increase the use of Class “A” Reclaimed Water for agricultural irrigation in the future.
For more information, contact City of Sequim Public Works Director David Garlington at (360) 681-3439 or dgarlington@sequimwa.gov.