Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council on Feb. 25 approved a program that will allow residents to receive reimbursement for repairing their sewer laterals.
Residents with eligible projects may receive up to $3,000.
During the past decade, the City of Sweet Home has completed multiple rehabilitation and replacement projects in the sewer system in an effort to reduce inflow and infiltration, said Public Works Director Mike Adams.
Inflow and infiltration is storm water that enters the sewer system through deteriorating pipes and cross connections with storm drains. During heavy rain, I&I can overload the Wastewater Treatment Plant, prompting a bypass of untreated wastewater.
The city has been working under an agreement with the Department of Environmental Quality to reduce I&I. Under the agreement, as long as Sweet Home is continuing projects to reduce I&I and eliminate bypasses, the DEQ will not fine Sweet Home for bypassing during heavy rainstorms.
“This work has come at considerable cost to the utility rate payers as the projects have been funded by low-interest loans,” Adams said. “Unfortunately, however, defects on private building sewer service laterals have been proven to be a major source of excessive I&I; and consequently, more work needs to be completed in this particular part of the system in order for the system to gain compliance.”
Nearly one-third of private laterals have been repaired already during four phases of rehabilitation and replacement.
“But many more remain throughout the enter system in need of repair or replacement,” Adams said. “Given the projects to date are primarily funded by all rate payers, this program is intended to provide opportunities to those property owners who have not otherwise been part of previous projects to partake in similar funding support of their individual properties.”
“Reduction of overflows to the river, which serves as drinking water supply for several downstream cities is more than just a good idea. It’s required.”
This program is one of several strategies the city is using to reduce those flows, he said. Along with it, the city is considering upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The program pays for laterals based on a $30 per foot cost for lines during the fourth phase of the sewer line repair projects.
Some $200,000 has been budgeted to pay fund the program this year.
Voting to approve the program were councilors Marybeth Angulo, Craig Fentiman, Mayor Jim Gourley, Greg Mahler, Scott McKee Jr. and Dave Trask. Bruce Hobbs was absent.
For more information about the program, call the city at (541) 367-5128.