Brewery water in hands of panel

Conservancy board approves request to process applications

By Christian Hill | The Olympian • Published June 19, 2008

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A little-known volunteer board will determine how much of the water that was once the main ingredient in Olympia Beer will one day flow through the faucets of utility customers in the county's three largest cities.

The Water Conservancy Board of Thurston County has approved a request by the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater to process their applications to use water that served the former Olympia brewery for municipal purposes.

Mike Rhubright, the board's chairman, said one factor in the board's acceptance was the significance of the water to the community. The state Department of Ecology would have processed the applications if the board had declined.

"This is huge for us, and it's an honor, as well," he said.

Speed was the primary reason the cities asked the board to process its applications instead of Ecology, said Jill Van Hulle, water resources specialist for Pacific Groundwater Group, a Tumwater-based consultant the cities hired to assist with their requests.

"It can take a long time even for a change application to be processed," she said. "They weren't able to give the cities any sort of firm timetable. It's important that these move along fairly expeditiously."

Van Hulle said she is confident the board will make a decision in a year.

The move to the board also means the review and decision-making will be open to more public comment and scrutiny.

How we got here

The cities sued to condemn the water in 2006 and took possession of it April 22 after paying more than $4.5 million as their offer to compensate the property owner, Delaware-based Well B Ng LLC. Twelve jurors will determine exactly how much the cities should pay the property owner during a 10-day trial that is scheduled to begin in January in Thurston County Superior Court.

The cities filed 11 applications with Ecology on April 29 before requesting that the board take the case.

Officials say they need the water to serve their growing communities. It has been three years since the city of Lacey stopped new development in its urban growth area because it does not have an adequate supply of water to serve new homes and businesses.