Fiber Optic Construction Leaves Thousands Without Irrigation in KID

A state of emergency has been declared by the Kennewick Irrigation District concerning broken main lines.

Dozens of lines punctured or broken due to fiber optic installation

Monday afternoon May 16th, KID officials announced they have formally approved what's called a state of emergency. According to the District:

" Due to an unprecedented number of broken main lines in its district from various contractors installing high speed internet conduits via trenchless excavation and boring, The Kennewick Irrigation District (KID) is officially declaring an emergency to its 2022 irrigation season, which will allow KID to bring in outside assistance to complete repairs.

At the beginning of a normal watering season, irrigation systems are started up and breaks from winter are inevitably discovered and repaired in a timely manner. The additional damage caused by outside contractors installing high speed internet conduits during the off-season has diverted attention away from that normal scope of work during this pivotal time of the year."

Typically it takes 2-3 weeks to complete water deliveries to all KID consumers, but this year at least 1,500 are still without water due to these breaks. That represents 6 percent of their customers.

Good news, if there is any, is that it will not affect consumer's water rates:

"An emergency declaration will allow KID the ability to hire companies who are familiar with irrigation to assist KID operations staff with repairs, expediting water deliveries to customers before any substantial loss to property or assets. As for budget concerns, the costs of these repairs will be taken from the Risk Management Mitigation Fund established by Policy 2.28 and will have no effect on assessments."

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No timetable has been established yet as to when these repairs will be finished.