Low water supply poses danger for Sisters

If a major forest wildfire should burn into Sisters from the south or the west or if a multi-structure fire should occur within the city, there might not be enough water available to battle the flames.

Faced with a conflagration, firefighters might not have an adequate water supply or sufficient pressure, according to Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Marshal David Wheeler.

Both the City of Sisters and the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District are concerned and action is now underway to reduce the threat.

The problem stems from rapid growth in Sisters.

"The present water supply and system with two pumps and a storage reservoir south of town was sufficient until recently," Wheeler explained. "However, with the rapid development within the city and the increased use we have experienced from more residents watering lawns, washing cars, and other uses during the summer, our crews could have a real problem maintaining a needed supply of water and pressure to control a major fire."

A large fire during the summer might require firefighters to pump 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water per minute, Wheeler added.

"We have enough engines available to do that and that means 120,000 gallons over a 30-minute period," Wheeler said. "By periodic testing we have learned that that level of use could cause us to draw down our water supply and will create a major loss of pressure. We would then have to fall back to using water tenders pumping from Whychus Creek or from private water systems in local subdivisions."

The fire district has held discussions with the city on this problem during the past year. That has resulted in the city recently calling for sealed bids to drill a new well this year at the north edge of the city. A new 2.5 million-gallon storage reservoir then will be added next year, according to Sisters Public Works Director, Gary Frazee.

"Meeting requirements for a new well for a public water system and going through the bidding process takes time," Frazee said. "However, we are on a fast track to get this job done.

"Bids are due by August 1 and a contract will be awarded within 45 days," Frazee explained. "The contractor will first drill an eight-inch test well to make sure of an adequate water supply and then drill an 18-inch permanent well 300 feet deep. The successful contractor will have 90 days to complete the project which will probably be by late December."

The new well will be located west of Camp Polk Road just north of the former Conklin Guest House on a 100-by-100-foot easement provided by Sun Ranch Development, Frazee said. Later, as that development gets underway, the development company will give the city title to the area.

"With the new well in, we will start efforts to locate a site for a new reservoir that needs to be located close to the same elevation as our existing one to give us needed pressure for the system," Frazee added. "We'll start by looking somewhere in the vicinity of McKinney Butte east of town."