Our History
The original water system was created in 1898 by the Phoenix Logging Company. The entire infrastructure has been replaced since then.
The Potlatch Beach Mutual Water Company (PBMWC) was formed in 1947 when the Phoenix Logging Company owners, Ernst and Hulda Carlson, donated the water rights and existing infrastructure to the newly formed non-profit corporation.
The sole purpose of the PBMWC is to provide water for potable use and fire protection to all properties within Potlatch Beach Tracts, and all property owners are Members of the PBMWC. Service is now provided to 74 members with 84 hookups to receive water.
| 1947 | Potlatch Beach Mutual Water Company formed |
| 1953 | 450 LF of 8-inch AC & 1,450 LF of 6-inch Transite water main installed |
| 1960 | 2,200 LF of 4-inch Transite water main installed |
| 1960 | Well #1 installed |
| 1961 | Overhead power to Well #1 & 200 LF of 4-inch Transite water main installed |
| 1961 | 25,000 gallon concrete storage tank & 480 LF of 8-inch Transite water main installed |
| 1963 | Approx. 1,250 LF of 4-inch Transite water main installed |
| 1966 | 2,940 LF of 4-inch Transite water main installed |
| 1977 | 300 LF of 4-inch plastic water main installed (west side of Hwy 101) |
| 1981 | Well #2 installed |
| 1982 | First flow meter and well pump motor hour meters installed for wells |
| 1995 | Wells #1 and #2 submersible pumps and motors replaced |
| 1995 | Flow meter at well house replaced |
| 2002 | 1,500 feet of underground power installed to replace overhead power to wells |
| 2007 | 4 water Quality sampling stations installed |
| 2009 | Started installation of meters on customer service lines- 16 meters installed |
| 2010 | Well #1(SO1) contaminated with e-coli bacteria; well taken out of service |
| October, 2013 | Short Message System (SMS) 2G cellular installed to monitor and communicate pump activity |
| 2016 | Completed installation of meters on all 82 customer meters |
| 2017 | SMS upgraded to 4G LTE cellular telemetry and added input/output features for future |
| 2018 | Well #3 (SO3) completed |
| 2018 | Pumphouse #2 Built |
| Nov, 2020 | New panel Commissioned |
| February, 2021 | 4G LTE cellular telemetry replaced by Cable Modem |
| August, 2021 | Pump#2 & Pump #3 Began Alternating |
| November 24, 2022 | Pump#2 carrying load & Pump #3 taken out of service |
| July, 2023 | Began UltraViolet Disinfection Project |