A long-planned project for the City of Sequim to drill a new, deeper well — Silberhorn Deep Well No. 4 — is anticipated to start in the coming week depending on the contractor’s schedule, city staff said.
The $3.8 million, two-phase project includes drilling the well up to 600 feet below the Dr. Standard Little League Park between the T-ball fields closest to Silberhorn Road.
It will include a new municipal water supply well and a motor control center with pipelines to connect to the existing water distribution system.
According to Sequim’s 2022 Water System Preliminary Plan for 2023-2032, the city’s water system includes four sources with three active for daily supply.
The Silberhorn Wellfield has seen two wells with decreasing capacity, city staff previously said, so the deeper well will help balance the pressure in the overall system, improve water quality, and meet forecasted water demands through 20 years.
In December, Sequim city councilors approved a first-phase digging contract with Holt Services Inc. of Edgewood worth $598,623, and a 10% contingency.
The company was the only bidder, but city staff recommended approving the contract due to timing, drilling requirements, and because they only received one bid.
Construction was set to begin in late January, but associate engineer Austin Wagner said in an interview that Holt had some delays with its current project, and they hope to begin drilling the week of Feb. 12.
Public works director Sarah VanAusdle said construction on phase 1 is anticipated to be completed in mid-May with a short stoppage in April for material design and procurement.
Phase 2 would begin sometime in 2025, staff said.
The city received a 20-year loan from the Washington State Public Works Board at a 1.39% interest rate to cover the project. Staff report it will be repaid at $275,000 annually from water revenues.
When construction begins, it’ll take place between 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday. City staff ask residents to avoid the park and heed construction signs and park closure signs.
Staff are coordinating with Sequim Little League to have minimal impact on the upcoming season, they said.
Paving for the first phase of the park’s main parking lot led by the Jamestown S’Klallam Jamestown Tribe was completed by Lakeside Industries the first week of February after delays due to inclement weather.
For more information about the project, call Sequim’s Public Works Department at 360-683-5062.
