SCBID Project to save 30,000 acre feet of water per year

South Columbia Basin Irrigation District (SCBID) is mid-way through construction of the PPL1.6 Pumping Plant, which will capture and pump return flow water out of the Esquatzel Diversion Canal into the Pasco Pump Lateral. This is one example of how the Columbia Basin Project (Project) recaptures return flow water in large quantities and reuses it, contributing to the overall efficiency of the Project.

The PPL1.6 Pumping Plant’s water supply will be return flow water that was originally pumped at Grand Coulee and would otherwise be returning to the river. This return flow water has already been used at least once and probably multiple times before it gets to the PPL1.6 Pumping Plant. The water will amount to approximately 30,000 acre feet per year of savings to SCBID. Numerous operational benefits will be realized, in particular water supply reliability to Block 1 and freeing up capacity upstream in the Potholes Canal system.

This water would otherwise return to the Columbia River and will amount to approximately 30,000 acre feet per year of water savings to SCBID. Numerous operational benefits will be realized, in particular water supply reliability to Block 1 and freeing up capacity upstream in the Potholes Canal system. Project costs are estimated at about $5 million. SCBID secured a $1.5 million incentive payment from the Bonneville Power Administration to lower the cost to the District.

To date, construction progress is ahead of schedule. The plant will come online and be put into service beginning with the 2018 irrigation season. Apollo Inc., Kennewick, is the general contractor and RH2 Engineering, Richland, is responsible for the engineering design and project management.