OTHELLO — Work has begun on a new well for the City of Othello. On Wednesday, Aug. 21, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new Well No. 10.

In attendance were city and county officials, 9th District Representatives Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, and Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, contractors, business and industry representatives, residents and one person who wants to move to Othello.

“This was one of many goals that Othello set out to accomplish to ensure adequate water availability for this city,” said Othello Mayor Shawn Logan. “The city faces a serious water supply issue that will affect the ability to sustain both the current population and future growth. This project is part of the city’s regional water plan and, once complete, will adequately prepare us for our future.”

The money for the new well, located at Taggares Park, is coming from state and federal funding. The city has received $2.55 million for the project. Dye, one of the state legislators who pushed for the funding of the new well, spoke during the ceremony.

“Water is life,” said Dye. “What I found when I was first appointed to this position was that Othello was full of life, full of ambition, full of goals and dreams. They laid it out in such a passionate and reasonable way that it was easy to seek help at the state level to make sure those goals were attained. I am really happy and honored to be here to celebrate this great accomplishment because this, really, is the goal that will provide the water for the anticipated growth for this community well into the future.”

The new well is expected to go down 920 to 1,000 feet and pump 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of fresh, potable water a minute. Yellow Jacket Drilling Services, contractor for the project, is expected to have the well drilled in 60 days. A well house will be built and several hundred feet of piping will need to be laid before the well can be used to help meet the cities water needs.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at [email protected].