History and Operation of the Port Townsend Olympic Gravity Water System
Calendar Date:
Thursday, February 25, 2021 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Add to your calendar:
Click Here to Join!
Port Townsend’s location in a rain shadow at the north end of the Quimper Peninsula made it necessary for community leaders to develop a reliable water source in the Olympic Mountains. In 1928, a partnership with Crown Zellerbach paper mill was formed to construct a 28-mile long replacement water system. Under an agreement with the city, Port Townsend Paper Company continues to operate and maintain the transmission system while city staff provide treatment and delivery of the water to the community.
Ian Jablonski is the Water Resources Operations Manager for the City of Port Townsend, responsible for leading the water treatment and distribution staffs. He has administered the Cooperative Watershed Protection Program with the US Forest Service and participated in a variety of study and planning efforts including Water Resource Inventory Area 17 watershed planning. During the past 27 years he has overseen a number of water system improvements including reconstruction of the Little Quilcene River Diversion, City Lake outlet pipeline replacement, development of the membrane Water Treatment Facility, and repairs to the Big Quilcene Diversion.
