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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend October 16, 2006 Eagle Point's water line will likely keep up with growth By Jennifer Strange for the Mail Tribune Even as Eagle Point grows, worries about water will dry up a bit with a new supply line. A new 12,000-linear-foot line of 16-inch diameter pipe is being installed parallel to Highway 62 and is nearly completed. It will supplement Eagle Point's existing 12-inch line installed in the mid-1970s. "It will pick up water at Avenue G in White City from the Medford Water Commission. That's where we get all our water already," explained city Public Works Director Robert Miller. "Then it comes up Highway 62, ties into our existing water system at Nita Way and ends by the new Harnish Visitors Center." Medford, and the bulk of the valley via the same system, gets most of its water from Big Butte Springs near Mount McLoughlin, with summer water needs supplemented by Rogue River water. Started in June, the Eagle Point project is about three weeks from completion and will increase Eagle Point's existing water supply by as much as 3 million gallons a day. This is enough to cover peak summer usage and meet growth in the Eagle Point area, Miller said. Advertisement "It's an important part of our infrastructure and shows we're not only looking at our needs now, but looking into the future, finding funding and looking for a way to make it happen," said Miller. "We're looking at long-term planning so we don't have to be scrambling." As a cost-saving measure, the city upsized mid-project from a 14-inch diameter pipe to a 16-inch diameter pipe. "The cost of the new pipe is pretty cheap compared to building a new one 10 years down the road," said Miller. "They're already doing the excavation, have the connections, have the contractor there." As the area grows industrially and residentially, more water will continue to be needed. Statistical reports from the Medford Water Commission show that average monthly water usage in Eagle Point went from 23.5 million gallons in 2000 to 36.2 million gallons in 2005. The most obvious increase was during peak summer months. In 2000, 43.2 million gallons were used in one month. This skyrocketed to 72.6 million gallons last year. "That's a big increase and quite honestly partly because of a change in demographics," said Laura Hodnett, public information officer of the Medford Water Commission. "Their winter usage has gone down because many new houses that have been built have more efficient water systems. Summer use is higher because there are a lot more landscapes with sprinkler systems and stuff." In the face of this growth, Eagle Point's existing water supply was close to being maxed out, said Hodnett. When needed, the water commission allowed Eagle Point to fall back on an emergency connection at Big Butte Springs. Paid for using a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and water system development charges, the new $1.3 million pipeline will be paid off through additional water system development charges and normal water fees. "It has already been built into the rate fees, which didn't increase for this project," said Miller. "And as other development comes on line, it will help pay for the infrastructure." The new Wal-Mart Supercenter on Highway 62 will draw water from the new supply line, but Miller said the line was not built specifically to service Wal-Mart. "Could Wal-Mart have been built without this water line? Yes," he said. "But could we do the whole business park, city expansion and the urban growth boundary expansion? Probably not." The city of Eagle Point has been purchasing water from the Medford Water Commission since 1936. The Eagle Point Water Department runs and maintains the city's water system, including a reservoir of 3.6 million and 200,000 gallons. An additional 4 million gallon reservoir is scheduled to be on line by spring 2008. Jennifer Strange is a freelance writer living in Central Point. Reach her at [email protected]. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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