The Centralia City Council approved a $45,000 contract on Tuesday night with CF Malm Engineering LLC, a Seattle-based engineering firm, to do a feasibility study on the Yelm Hydro Plant canal following the sinkhole last month.
City Light General Manager Ed Williams said after the canal leak, which cost more than $500,000 including replacement power costs, it became necessary to investigate the possibility of adding an inner lining or pipeline to some sections of the Yelm canal.
Williams said the feasibility study will analyze the cost of a pipeline or liner versus the potential of more costly sinkhole repairs over the remaining life of the canal.
The feasibility study is budgeted as miscellaneous engineering support for the Yelm Hydro Plant.
