The biggest demand for water in Unalaska hits during the winter months, when groundwater is frozen and fish processors are at their busiest. At those times, the city’s water supply can fall short of demand by as many as 4 million gallons.

Last night, city council starting considering short-term solutions to those shortages, along with some costly new wells to permanently boost the water supply.

Utilities director Dan Winters presented the options in a study by consulting firm Shannon & Wilson. Those include refurbishing existing wells, installing a penstock above Icy Lake, or drilling two new wells. The penstock and new wells both drew criticism for their difficulty and expense.

Councilor Dennis Robinson sharply objected to a proposal to drill in Unalaska Valley until the city studies its effect on subsistence salmon stocks. The other option is Shaishnikoff River Valley, near Captains Bay, but more geologic research is needed to determine whether the area could support a well.

A project in the Shaishnikoff River Valley could be extremely expensive because of the lack of infrastructure. Winters estimates costs could easily reach about $10 million. Land access could also be complicated, since the city does not own either of the prospective well sites.

Down the road, though, city manager Chris Hladick said the city might have to consider bigger additions to the water supply because of new development in the Captains Bay area. That could drive more demand for water. Council asked Winters to bring back more research on the cost and feasibility of the two wells the consultants suggested.