Six-percent of registered Ketchum voters went to the polls Tuesday to overwhelmingly pass a $2.8 million bond request to repair the old water system that serves downtown customers.
Of the ballots cast, 121 residents, or 90 percent of those voting, voted in favor of the special revenue bond election. Only 13 residents voted against the revenue bond.
The $2.8 million bond will used to replace nearly 20 miles of old pipes and move water mains from underneath alleys to streets.
The pipes were built to last 25 to 30 years but have been in use more than 40 years, according to the city. The old Ketchum Spring Water system, which the city bought 19 years ago, serves nearly 300 water customers.
Old steel pipes will be replaced with new ones made out of PVC and ductile iron, which have an expected life span of 75 to 100 years.
Increased user fees will pay for the bond. Rates will rise 8 percent per customer, per month.
The downtown area will be done in quadrants, one each year for the next four years.
Work this year will begin in Quadrant 1, bordered to the north by Fourth Street, to the east by Spruce Avenue, to the south by River Street and to the west by Main Street.