Worst-case scenario: North Bend builds state-approved water-mitigation infrastructure and a new well, but fails to resolve a resident’s legal challenge to the approval. If that happens, how much would the bill of current water customers jump?

About $7 per month, according to Ron Garrow, North Bend public works director.

“If we built everything and we’re still in moratorium, we have to charge customers,” Garrow said.

The new water well would cost $480,000, and the cost to divert surface water from Hobo Springs to the Snoqualmie River to make up for the water lost to the well would cost a little more than $2 million.

If the challenge sticks or isn’t resolved in time for new construction to shoulder the costs, current city water customers could be left holding the bag.

However, that’s a big if, city leaders said.

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