Centralia expects new water-treatment plant to begin operating this fall

Centralia’s new water-treatment plant was expected to begin operating in fall 2026, Public Works Director Jeff Schwartz told the Centralia City Council during an update on June 9.

The next major milestone was equipment installation, which was expected to be completed by August 2026. That schedule would move the city closer to transitioning the new facility into operation, although the council update did not establish an exact startup date.

What the project means for the city

The plant is a city investment in Centralia’s public water system. It is intended to improve the city’s water infrastructure and reliability, making the project relevant to residents, businesses and other customers who depend on municipal water service.

The fall target is an expected operating schedule, not confirmation that the plant has started running. The June 9 update did not identify a specific commissioning date or provide a separate announcement that the facility was operational.

The update also did not identify the project’s total cost or explain whether future water rates would be affected. Those issues are separate from the equipment installation and fall operating targets. The city also has not provided performance information establishing the extent of any water-quality improvement.

As work continues, residents and businesses may need to follow city updates about installation and the transition to operation. The project’s construction and commissioning phases could bring changes for the public, but the June 9 discussion did not identify specific disruptions or a detailed transition schedule.

Separate alley action

The same Centralia City Council update included discussion of vacating an alley. The proposed purpose was to improve safety and security near church and school properties.

The alley matter was separate from the water-treatment plant schedule. Both involved city decisions affecting public infrastructure and nearby properties, but the council discussion tied the alley action to safety and security rather than to the plant’s construction or operation.

What comes next

Equipment installation expected by August 2026 was the next known project milestone, followed by expected operation in fall 2026. The schedule leaves the plant’s exact opening date to a later city announcement or project update.

Until that confirmation, Centralia’s water-treatment plant remains on an expected timeline rather than a confirmed operating schedule. Updates from the city and its Public Works Department will be important for establishing when the facility begins service and whether officials announce additional information about performance, costs or customer rates.