Spokane once again has a permanent leader for its water department.

The Spokane City Council on Monday unanimously approved Mayor David Condon’s appointment of Dan Kegley as the water director.

The city was without a water director from June 2012, when previous director Frank Triplett retired, until Kegley was named the acting director in May. Kegley previously was the water service supervisor.

Utilities Director Rick Romero said he waited to fill the job because he considered merging the position with the wastewater director. But after leading the department himself, Romero said, he determined the water department needed its own leader.

Kegley, 54, has worked for the water department for nearly 23 years. He will earn about $110,000 as the water director.

The city’s water department has about 170 employees and has the capacity to pump 280 million gallons a day. It also operates the Upriver Dam, which powers the city’s water system.

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