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Background

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Past and current water system plans, a 2016 Consolidation Study and the current 2024 Consolidation Study all show that the Town of Cathlamet (the Town) water and wastewater systems need significant financial resources and physical repair to bring them up to standards. System rehabilitation funding through the Washington State Drinking Water State Revolving Fund is “provided for larger, well-run systems to acquire and upgrade struggling or failing systems.”

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In August of 2023, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) solicited grant applications for consolidation feasibility studies, formerly known as Restructuring Assessments. These studies are used by the DOH to identify struggling and troubled water systems. Wahkiakum County PUD (the PUD) applied for the grant with the Town consent and acknowledgment and a grant was awarded to the PUD. Gray and Osborne, the engineering firm of record for both the PUD and the Town, was awarded the task of preparing the study due to their intimate knowledge of both water systems and that they work for both entities.

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Gray and Osborne performed a Consolidation Study in 2016 and the results recommended that consolidation was feasible. That study stated an analysis of the wastewater system should be included, so it was added to the scope of the 2024 study. During the process, Gray and Osborne submitted data requests to the PUD and to the Town and used the data provided to develop the Consolidation Study.

The PUD was voted in by members of this community and established in 1937 to serve customers.​​​​