Wenatchee approves $1.9M repair for reservoir leaking 1 million gallons a day

WENATCHEE — A city water reservoir near Okanogan Avenue and Gehr Street was leaking about 1 million gallons of water a day before the Wenatchee City Council approved nearly $1.9 million in repairs during its Feb. 26 meeting.

Mayor Mike Poirier presided over the meeting. Councilmembers Jose Cuevas, Doug Miller, Linda Herald and Charlie Atkinson were present in the council chamber, while Mayra Navarro-Gomez participated via Zoom. Top Rojanasthien and Travis Hornby were excused.

The funding will support temporary repairs to the city’s four-million-gallon Okanogan reservoir, which supplies part of Wenatchee’s drinking water system.

William Weems, the city’s water distribution supervisor, told council the project will address several structural problems inside the tank. Planned work includes replacing a failing filler joint between interior panels, injecting grout beneath concrete slabs, repairing the roof membrane and fixing areas where deteriorating concrete has exposed reinforcing steel.

City staff discovered the issue last September after identifying significant water loss from the reservoir. The tank was immediately taken out of service while engineers evaluated the structure.

Two engineering reviews later recommended the same repair approach before the reservoir could safely return to operation.

The leak has also created an ongoing financial impact. Because the lost water must be replaced through the regional supply system, the city has had to purchase replacement water.

“We purchase that water through the regional system and it costs about $900 a day, which equals roughly $320,000 a year,” Weems told council.

The water loss also pushes the city beyond allowable system loss thresholds set for utilities.

The repair project is estimated at $1.875 million and will be paid from the city’s 401 water utility fund. Officials said the work will help stabilize the reservoir and maintain reliable water capacity while the city evaluates longer-term infrastructure needs.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media