Post Falls to update water system plan

 The Post Falls City Council has approved a $286,000 contract with Welch-Comer Engineers to update the city’s Water System Master Plan.

The city’s water system serves about half of Post Falls' citizens and businesses, providing over 2 billion gallons of safe drinking water to customers every year.

Generally, master plans are updated every five to ten years. The city’s most recent Water System Master Plan was completed in 2017. Since then, major projects identified in that plan have been accomplished, including the addition of two new source wells, rehabilitation of two aging well houses and multiple pipeline replacement projects, a press release said.

As Post Falls continues to evolve, city staff have identified the need to reassess and adapt to shifting development patterns. While less industrial development occurred in the northwest portion of the city than anticipated, residential infill has grown at a faster pace. 

"These changes, combined with aging financial models, water pressure data and system modeling information, highlight the need for a new master planning effort," a release said.

Following a qualifications-based selection process, Welch-Comer Engineers was chosen as the preferred consultant. The local firm has extensive experience in municipal master planning and infrastructure projects across the region.

The updated plan will provide a 20-year roadmap for the city’s water system, addressing technical, financial, and operational needs. Specific focus areas include hydraulic modeling, equipment replacement and abandonment planning, pressure zone analysis and emergency preparedness.

Work is expected to begin soon on the Water System Master Plan. The initial findings will be shared with the City Council in about 10 months and the hope is to have a finalized document in early 2027.