The City of Renton completed work on a damaged water main under the West Hill Pump Station July 30, cutting short worries of decreased fire protection in the area.

“The West Hill Pump Station is a critical pump station that provides water not only domestic use, but also for fire protection to the West Hill Area,” said Abdoul Gafour, Water Utility Supervisor for the City of Renton. “Without the pump station we wouldn’t have the required capacity for fire protection.”

Mayor Denis Law made an emergency declaration so work could begin quickly after the leak was found July 23 when water was seeping through the floor of the pump station. Work started July 25 and water was back on July 30.

The final cost for the project was about $17,000. Early projections estimated the cost would be at least double that figure and that work could stretch into mid-August. Gafour said the leak was found quicker than expected.

“We discovered the leak was from a small fitting underneath the floor slab of the pump station,” Gafour said.

The West Hill Pump Station is located at 615 West Perimeter Road and services West Hill, as well as a portion of the Skyway Water District. Gary Merlino Construction performed the repair work.