Notice how close to leaking nuclear waste from Hanford,

the City of Pasco is getting its drinking water1 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESEMENT

(EA)

AND

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

(FONSI)

PASCO WATER INTAKE FACILITY

PASCO, WASHINGTON

l. Introduction/Proposed Action

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (Corps) proposes to

issue an easement to the City of Pasco (City) for the construction, operation, and

maintenance of a water intake facility located (in part) on Corps

-managed federal

land

at approxim

ately

Columbia River Mile 336.3

. The

City is proposing to build

a new water intake facility adjacent to its existing l

-182

intake facility.

Construction of the new water intake facility would assist the City in meet

ing

its

current and projected demands f

or both potable and irrigation water.

ll.

Background Information

Starting in the early 2000s, Pasco became one of the fastest growing cities in

Washington State going from approximately 32,000 people in 2000 to an

estimated population of around 65,600 people in 2013.

The significant increase

in the number of city residents has created the need to ensure a sufficient supply

of water to meet both municipal and irrigation demands now and into the future.

Population forecast numbers from Pasco’s Comprehensive Water System Plan

conservatively project 87,000 residents by 2027 and 100,000 residents by 2030.

Pasco’s two existing water intake facilities are now operating at maximum

capacity and unable to meet Pasco’s current and projected water needs

.

lll. Statement of Purpose and Need

The

Corps

proposes

to issu

e an easement to the City to build a water intake

facility

adjacent to

the

existing l-

182 intake facility located immediately upstream

of the I

-182 bridge on the north shore of the Columbia River. The purpose of the

water intake facility is to provide the City with a sufficient supply of potable (and if

needed, irrigation) water to meet current and future demands. The proposed

water intake project will help meet t

he City’s growing infrastructure

needs

.