PORT ANGELES – After years of wrangling with the Federal Government, the City of Port Angeles has reached an agreement and is expecting to take over operations of the Elwha River water treatment facilities within a week or so.

Mayor Sissi Bruch signed the agreement last week, and at this point the City is just waiting for National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith to do the same. City Manager Dan McKeen:

The water systems were built by the government as part of the dam removal project, and the plan has always been to eventually transfer ownership to the City. Design and performance issues caused the City to file a lawsuit claiming that the take-over would cost the city far more to operate than originally thought.

The new agreement includes $6.65 million going to the City for the extra costs, and a promise from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to request an additional $2.5 million in the 2020 federal budget.

The system will primarily be used as an industrial water supply, but is equipped to act as a backup for drinking water if needed.