A conversation at the local barber shop led to questions about chlorination at the Wahkiakum PUD Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday morning.

Commissioner Bob Jungers said that while he was waiting for a haircut, another customer began talking about the possibility of the PUD taking over the Westside Water System in Skamokawa. The man was concerned that the PUD would chlorinate the water. Jungers introduced himself and confirmed the man’s fear. That’s when he learned about another possible option for water purification, UV radiation.

Jungers admitted that he did not know anything about the technology but asked General Manager Dave Tramblie to look into it.

Tramblie agreed to do so.

After a quick report from Counsel Tim Hanigan, Tramblie gave an update about the work going on at the PUD. A new truck has been purchased and will require a customized flatbed. A request for bids for computer upgrades at the western Wahkiakum well site has been sent out.

So far, the PUD has installed 1741 automated meter reading meters for the electric system and 614 for the water systems.

With a new comprehensive 10 year plan in the works for the Western Wahkiakum Water System, the commissioners had been curious about how many of the projects the PUD had been able to complete from the last plan.

Tramblie provided a report this week. From 2012 until the present time, they had accessed hatch gaskets on Malone Road and the Deep River reservoirs, created overflow piping on Malone Road reservoir, put in new inlet/outlet piping on both reservoirs, and cleaned both reservoirs. They also replaced 400 linear feet of six inch water main on SR 4 at Hull Creek and 4,000 linear feet of two inch water line at Shannon Road.

“I read this report when it was new,” Commissioner Dennis Reid said. “I’m amazed we were able to accomplish that many things that were in it, because I thought we couldn’t get there. You’ve done an amazing job of getting there. With the finances that are available for that system, you found ways to do things cheaper than what they said it would cost.”

One of the projects that still needs to be done according to the report is replacing 45,000 linear feet of two and three inch waterline on Eden Valley Road. It is projected to cost nearly $3 million dollars to complete.

Auditor Erin Wilson reported that the annual inventory had been completed and that a new phone system had been installed.

She said that there was currently $533 available in the Residential Energy Assistance Program.

“The program is well utilized,” Wilson said.

Commissioner Gene Healy expressed a desire to see more high speed internet in the county. He said that his church was looking for a new leader and while talking to two potential candidates, he found out that their spouses had high tech jobs and worked from home.

“Any kind of real economic growth in this county is going to have to have some high speed internet to make it happen,” he said. “Common sense tells me it’s the quickest thing we could do. We’ve been trying to encourage other manufacturing and so forth forever. It’s tough.”

Jungers agreed.

“It would increase property values, general local revenues, and attract more people,” Jungers said. “It could be a real boost.”