Port seeks bids for $4.6 million water-main project linking Malaga system

MALAGA — A planned water main along West Malaga Road would strengthen connections across the community’s water system, improve pressure management and provide capacity to replace an aging pipeline.

Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority commissioners voted Oct. 27 to authorize bidding for the West Malaga Loop Water Main Project, which carries an engineer’s estimate of $4.6 million. Staff expect to solicit bids in November, receive them in December and complete construction in October 2027.

The project includes approximately 10,500 feet of water main along West Malaga Road, extending from Wallace Road toward Three Lakes Golf Course. Crews would also install pressure-reducing valves, air valves and isolation valves, replace fire hydrants along the route and restore affected road surfaces.

Port staff described the work as the last major project in the current group of Malaga water-system improvements, while noting that additional projects could be added.

“This is the last project that basically ties the entire water system back together,” said Stacie de Mestre, the port’s director of economic development and capital projects.

The design includes a larger pipeline than originally contemplated, allowing the new main to carry the capacity of an older parallel line if that pipe is taken out of service. De Mestre described that additional capacity as another community benefit incorporated into the project.

Pressure-control improvements are also part of the work, including modifications to existing infrastructure. The valves will help manage pressure as the connected system operates.

The Malaga Water District’s third-party engineer reviewed the plans and provided comments that were incorporated into the design, de Mestre told commissioners. The bidding authorization allows the port to seek construction proposals; it does not award a construction contract.

The project is proceeding under the port’s development and reimbursement agreement supporting the broader Malaga improvements. Staff said the construction schedule aligns with that agreement.

The expanding water system also prompted discussion about water quality. De Mestre said two newer wells had recently begun rotating through testing and commissioning, while the port was examining whether available funding could support decommissioning two older wells with rising nitrate levels.

She said water quality is principally a water district responsibility, but noted that lower nitrate levels in incoming water also benefit Microsoft’s cooling operations. Water passing repeatedly through the cooling system becomes more concentrated, making the quality of the source water important to its operation.

Commissioners also heard that the construction program’s financial benefits to the port will taper as projects conclude. The port receives a 5% administrative fee for managing the improvements, with approximately $1.3 million anticipated in 2027.

CEO Jim Kuntz cautioned that those fees are temporary revenue and should be treated accordingly when planning future spending.

For Malaga residents, the West Malaga project would leave a lasting addition: a connected water main designed to support the system as older infrastructure eventually comes out of service.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media