The Sumpter Dredge, which mined the Sumpter Valley for gold from 1935 to 1954, is the centerpiece of a state park at the south edge of the town, about 28 miles west of Baker City. Sumpter, population about 210, has received two federal grants, totaling nearly $4 million, to replace its water supply line and one of its two storage tanks.

The city of Sumpter has received a $1.365 million federal grant to replace its main water supply line and to install water meters for each connection.

The grant, which the city of 210 will not have to repay, is the second Sumpter has received in the past couple years, Mayor Linda Wise said.

Sumpter, which is about 28 miles west of Baker City, also secured $2.5 million to replace the older of its two water storage tanks, a redwood structure that Wise said was leaking.

The city is selling boards from the redwood tank, she said.

Wise thanked Oregon’s U.S. senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, for helping arrange the federal grants.

“Sumpter is excited about the funds awarded to make the long-neglected repairs to our city water supply,” Wise said.

The current water supply line runs from McCully Fork, a tributary of Cracker Creek that is the city’s main water source.

The line, made of asbestos cement and installed in the 1970s, is prone to leaks, Wise said.

She hopes the new line will be installed in 2025.

In addition to the new supply line, the city will install water meters to measure each customer’s use.

Now, the city charges a flat rate for all customers, regardless of how much water they use, Wise said.

The Sumpter City Council has not decided how much the water usage rates will be for the approximately 275 connections, Wise said.

She said the city likely will have a base rate that includes a certain amount of water, then an additional rate for volumes exceeding the base amount.