Gales Creek watering hole seeks city oasis

Because of a faulty well, tavern hopes to connect to Forest Grove water line

By Ashley Pennington

The Forest Grove News-Times, Jul 28, 2010, Updated Jul 28, 2010 (1 Reader comment)

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The Gales Creek Tavern is a hub of activity for the small rural community whose name it claims.

But the watering hole is in trouble: county health officials have determined its well is being contaminated by the tavern’s septic system. And now the tavern’s owners are hoping to hook up to Forest Grove’s water system.

Normally, connecting a business that’s seven miles from the city limits to Forest Grove water would be out of the question — but the tavern’s proximity to pipes carrying city water, and some unique history, have Forest Grove city councilors considering granting the tavern’s request.

The tavern, which sits on a small piece of property along Highway 8, built its well as far away from its septic tank as possible, according to Rob Foster, public works director for the city of Forest Grove.

But according to the Washington County Health Department, it wasn’t enough to keep it from contaminating their water supply.

Foster said that the community of Gales Creek has always struggled with securing an adequate supply of clean water, and while community residents have petitioned for access to Forest Grove’s water supply before, this is the first time the city council has seriously considered providing water to a property outside its original contract.

Farmers granted easements

A water intake was built in 1908 on Clear Creek, a tributary of Gales Creek. The original transmission line was made up of logs with 10-inch holes bored through their centers. The line ran seven miles from the creek, and through farm land.

“The farmers granted the easements to have the water line, but in turn the farmers each got a water connection,” said Foster. Eventually the city put in a chlorination station to disinfect the water provided to the farmers.

However, after the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 and passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act four years later, the federal government decided the city could no longer provide raw, untreated water to farmers.

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