CITY WATCH/ Part One: Additional Water Storage Space Needed For Overlake, $25M Price

Councilmember Stuart asked: what steps are needed to plan for the anticipated water storage deficit in Overlake, especially in light of anticipated growth in the area. CM Stuart expressed the importance of addressing potential storage shortfalls ahead of growth. 

Staff Comment:   Given the ability to move water supply within the system as needed, the needs identified in Overlake can be met by adding storage in multiple locations in Rose Hill and Overlake. The well service area (including the Education Hill Tanks) can be fed by the higher Rose Hill/Overlake pressure zones but the higher Rose Hill/Overlake pressure zones cannot be fed by the well service area. 

Additional storage in Rose Hill will directly benefit the Overlake area. The WSP specifically identifies adding a third storage tank on Education Hill.   The total estimated cost to add the needed storage is $24 million (in 2023 $). 

To provide the total volume identified in the current plan, a new reservoir site will be needed to meet the 20-year demand. 9/16

Source:  10/8 Council memo:   Councilmember Comment Councilmember Fields requested information on the key risks facing Redmond’s water distribution and storage system and asked how the Water System Plan addresses or mitigates such risks. READ MORE:

Staff Comment Redmond’s 2020 Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA), a component of the Water System Planning process, followed a federally recognized 7-step process to identify and propose how to manage risks to Redmond’s water system. Threats to key Redmond water system assets included cybersecurity threats, failure of infrastructure (due to age or damage from earthquakes), and accidental contamination. Mitigation measures, several of which have been implemented, include: improving physical security at priority assets such as reservoirs, tanks and wells; controlling access to key areas; training staff; developing incident action checklists; and ensuring the availability of backup power sources. The Water System Plan outlines an Emergency Response Program (Section 11.6) and notes that the City is a member of WAWARN (Washington Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network), an organization that allows Redmond to receive rapid mutual aid and assistance from other water systems during an emergency. Both the Risk and Resiliency Analysis and Emergency Response Plan will be updated as needed by mid-2025. For security reasons, the Risk and Resiliency Analysis and Emergency Response Plans are not included in the Water System Plan.

Source: Council Hopper, 10/8 Council Business Meeting

Posted by Yoder, 10/13/24

10/13/24