The first piece of the puzzle to improving service for water ratepayers in Pocatello’s Johnny Creek area is now in the books. Crews have wrapped up installation of roughly 4,800 feet of 12 inch water main from Mountain Shadow Drive to Sunset Drive on Johnny Creek Road. When demand for water decreases later this year, crews will connect it to the Johnny Creek Booster Station to make it operational. “Right now, the Johnny Creek area experiences some of the highest operating pressures in the Pocatello water system,” said Justin Armstrong, Water Superintendent for the City of Pocatello. “The high pressure leads to a shorter life for infrastructure and also possible damage to individual homes. When all four phases of this project are complete, we will bring that pressure down to a little over 100 pounds per square inch, per regulatory requirements.” Phase two consists of installing two pressure reducing valves and less than 100 feet of pipe. This portion of the project is set to be completed in 2016. In 2017, crews will install two more pressure reducing valves. A fourth phase will have crews installing over 600 feet of 8 inch water main. Phase four does not have a set date for completion since it will be coordinated with future development in the area. This project is being funded by the City of Pocatello Water Department’s Capital Improvement Fund and will cost a little over $390,000. The fund is financed by ratepayers and consists of no tax dollars.