City meets or exceeds all drinking water standards
Marlene Feist, Public Works, (509) 625-6505
Monday, June 4, 2018 at 11:08 a.m.
The City of Spokane today is releasing its required annual report on the quality of drinking water provided by the City’s Water Department. For 2017, as in previous years, the City met or exceeded all federal and state drinking water standards.
“The City is committed to providing safe, clean drinking water to our customers at an affordable price,” says Scott Simmons, the City’s Division Director for Public Works & Utilities. “This year, we also are expanding our work in the area of water conservation. A new program, called SpokaneScape, offers rebates on City utility bills for replacement turf with water-smart plants and mulch. That program complements work to use less water at City-owned properties and reduce water loss throughout our system.”
The City’s Water Quality Report for 2017 is attached and also is available on the City’s web site. Citizens may request a mailed copy by calling the Water Department at 625.7800 and providing a current address.
In addition to information on water quality and water conservation, the report provides an update on the City’s program to replace all remaining lead service connections in the City’s water system. Lead service lines were installed in the early to mid-1940s when World War II efforts made other materials scarce; many of the lead connections are found in Northwest Spokane.
Since May 2016, the Water Department has replaced 441 lead service lines with copper pipes, and the remaining 45 lines will be replaced this summer. Homeowners with lead service lines have been contacted and are encouraged to follow up with the City. More information can be found at: https://my.spokanecity.org/publicworks/water/lead-pipes/
The City of Spokane operates the third largest water system in the state of Washington. Only Seattle and Tacoma have larger systems.
Beneath our City streets is a network of water pipes that delivers water from the City’s wells to some 75,000 homes and businesses within the current water service area. The City maintains about 1,000 miles of water mains and smaller water lines.
