KENNEWICK, Wash.-Spring and the official start of yard work season are here. However not all Kennewick Irrigation District customers have their water yet.
Numerous KID customers have contacted NonStop Local about their irrigation service this spring and while it can be frustrating to see canals full of water around town, but have none on your lawn, the KID tells us they are working to get water flowing as quickly as possible.
According to Matthew Berglund with the KID, there is currently no official delay in irrigation service.
Due to the variance of water rights by district, some regional irrigation districts are allowed to start their seasons in March and have water flowing on April 1.
Water delivery into KID canals from the Bureau of Reclamation can begin on April 1, according to Berglund, however, it then takes a couple of days to travel through the district’s 80 miles of canals throughout the district.
Just because there is water in the canals does not necessarily mean customers will have their irrigation service.
Customers who live closer to the start of the KID canal system may see their water earlier in April, however, customers near the end of the system may not have water until the second half of April.
As KID canals fill they are flushed to remove debris in a process that must be repeated across multiple canals. Once the canals are filled, KID crews then activate about 120 pump stations, monitors water levels and repairs valves and broken pipes.
It may take up to four weeks to get the entire KID irrigation system filled, tested, cleaned and any repairs made before water gets to the yards of every customer, according to Berglund.
Irrigation updates will be posted on KID’s website and facebook page throughout the irrigation season.
