McAllister Wellfield

The City has relied on McAllister Springs for more than 60 years. Located at the headwaters of McAllister Creek, McAllister Springs, while continually providing high-quality water, is vulnerable to potential contamination, and will require extensive treatment if it is not retired within the next few years.

This project will construct nearly one mile of 36-inch diameter pipeline to connect the new Wellfield to the City’s existing water transmission main at McAllister Springs.

Schedule: Fall 2012 - Spring 2013

Cost: $5.4 Million

Funding: Drinking Water Utility, largely with low-interest loans from the Washington Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

This project consists of constructing and testing a series of wells, installing associated pumping equipment, chlorination, motor control equipment, and a generator, all housed in buildings on the 20-acre McAllister Wellfield site.

Schedule: Fall 2013 - Summer 2014

Cost: $6.6 Million

Funding: Drinking Water Utility, largely with low-interest loans from the Washington Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

This project will construct a Corrosion Control Facility which uses aeration (a non-chemical treatment approach using blown air) to raise the pH of water and reduce potential pipe corrosion. Corrosion of household piping can cause lead and copper to leach into the water. The federal Safe Drinking Water Act requires the City to take action to raise the system pH to an optimum level to prevent pipe corrosion.

Schedule: Fall 2013 - Summer 2014

Cost: $3.4 Million

Funding: Drinking Water Utility Capital Fund

In May 2008, they entered into a historic agreement - the first such agreement between a tribe and a municipality in the country - to jointly develop a new regional water source at McAllister Wellfield. Once the project is complete and operational, the wellfield will provide a secure supply of water for both communities for generations to come.

These mitigation actions include habitat restoration, enhancing stream flows with reclaimed water, and acquiring and retiring water rights. These actions will occur in the Nisqually, Deschutes, and Woodland Creek basins as well as at Lake St. Clair. Both the City and the Tribe, along with other regional partners, are committed to sustainability and resource stewardship that will benefit the entire region for many years to come. One of the other benefits of this project is that it will allow McAllister Springs to be retired as a water source. This will result in higher flows in McAllister Creek —a real benefit to a currently degraded stream.