City of Wenatchee Adds Columbia River Water Right

The City of Wenatchee added another source of water after recently purchasing the right to pump from the Columbia River near Worthen Street and 5th Street.

Lineage Logistics, who previously owned the right, is leaving the area and agreed to transfer the right in exchange for an early termination of their lease with the city.

Mayor Frank Kuntz stated that Lineage had previously been using the non-consumptive water right to pump water for cooling.

Kuntz said, "It's good for the city. I think the more water rights you can control the better, especially out of the Columbia River. We think those have some value to us locally, so we're pretty excited to have those in our portfolio."

The water right is currently non-consumptive, meaning the water can't be used for things like drinking water or agriculture. However, it's possible water right could become consumptive some day as the community grows.

The water right could eventually become part of Regional Water's portfolio, although there may need to be some remuneration back to the City because they were the ones who acquired the right out of their general fund.