ROYAL CITY — Royal City officials will spend $30,000 to $40,000 for a plan for a new water system.

City council members approved a contract with the planning and engineering firm of Anderson Perry & Associates, of Walla Walla, at the regular council meeting March 16.

Mayor Kent Anderson said the city has received a Community Development Block Grant to cover about $30,000 of the cost. Anderson estimated the total cost would be $60,000 to $70,000.

The 2021 water system plan will be in effect for 10 years and will replace the current plan. Anderson said the city must have a current plan before city officials can apply for funding for a project to replace the last section of steel water lines in the original part of town.

Anderson said writing a water plan involves more than planning. The project will survey the current water system, identify the existing lines and connections, update existing maps, and make recommendations for future improvements.

The city also will add GIS (geographic information system) technology, which is a requirement before city officials can apply for funding to help pay for the project.

Anderson said in an earlier interview while the last section of original steel water line has held up well, it’s past its projected life. City maintenance crews have had to fix a number of leaks, he said.

The line replacement tentatively is scheduled for 2022, with 2021 used to plan the project. The estimated cost is $2 million, and city officials will apply for funding later this year.

Anderson said city employees can do some of the work, and that will affect the amount the city will need to obtain through grants or low-interest loans. Part of the planning process will be to determine what city staff can do and what will require an outside contractor.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].