State Sending $7.5 Million To Protect Drinking Water Department Of Ecology Money Will Help Pay For Sewer Installations Throughout Aquifer Area

Sat., Aug. 10, 1996

By Brian Coddington brianc@spokesman.com

Spokane County commissioners announced this week that the county was awarded $7.5 million for the protection of the Spokane Valley’s major source of drinking water.

The state Department of Ecology money will help pay for sewer installations throughout the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer area, said Chad Hutson, county spokesman.

About 30,000 septic tanks are to be removed.

The funds are part of a 20-year, $100 million grant Department of Ecology awarded to Spokane County and the city of Spokane, Hutson said.

Every two years, the state Legislature approves spending $10 million, which is split between the city and the county, Hutson said. The county’s share is 75 percent.

The state grant helps fund the county’s $200 million sewer program. It will supply the county with $75 million - its share of the $100 million award - over the next 20 years. The remaining money will come from aquifer protection area fees, state sales and excise taxes, assessments to homeowners and revenue bonds, Hutson said.

Although state funding is over a 20-year period, the county has pledged to finish the sewer project in 15 years, Hutson said. When completed, more than 78,000 residents will be able to hook up to the sewer.

Construction begins

A ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday kicked off construction of the new Valley Fire station at Liberty Lake.

The new station, which will be built at 2118 N. Harvard Road, is scheduled to be completed by Jan. 8, 1997. It will serve primarily Liberty Lake and Greenacres.

A fire engine and a crew of three firefighters will be assigned to the station.

The new 6,500-square-foot station will replace Station No. 3 at 19200 E. Appleway, which was built in 1957.

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