City Council Battles Over Future Water Source
Walla Walla officials debate a costly Mill Creek pipeline versus tapping the Thomas ranch springs to quench the city's growing thirst.
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By a vote of five to two, the city council last night decided to place two propositions before voters for obtaining an adequate water supply. One, known as the third plan by Engineer Weile, proposes taking water from Mill Creek approximately 12 miles above the city at an estimated cost of $191,829. The second proposition is a $100,000 system utilizing developed water at the Thomas ranch. While the meeting was held behind closed doors, councilmen denied it was a 'star chamber session.' Councilmen Smith and Boyer opposed the Mill Creek scheme, citing potential litigation with riparian owners and concerns over water purity. Councilman Glasford expressed opposition to further development costs at the Thomas ranch.
“Councilmen Smith and Boyer both opposed the scheme as one entailing not only a vast amount of money but one that would involve the city in countless numbers of law suits.”
Water rights and the challenge of securing a reliable, high-quality supply remain a fundamental tension in Walla Walla’s civic life, echoing these 1903 debates about infrastructure costs versus long-term growth.
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