This article was in Wednesday’s (October 11th, 2017) 

Written By: Stephen Floyd, H&N Staff Reporter 

CHILOQUIN — The Chiloquin City Council has opted to pursue a $3.2 million plan to build a new lagoon-style sewer plant in an effort to upgrade the city’s current decades-old system.

During its regular meeting Monday, the council voted unanimously to pursue a lagoon plant after holding a workshop Thursday to discuss their options.

Councilor Michelle Ochoa said their decision was based on construction costs, as well as costs of upkeep and impacts on city personnel.

According to estimates prepared by Adkins Consulting Engineering, a lagoon will cost $3.2 million to construct and $99,000 annually to operate. This compares to a membrane bioreactor ($1.9 million construction, $230,000 annual operations) and a sequence batch reactor ($2.3 million construction, $266,000 annual operations).

Adkins recommended the membrane bioreactor, which would have taken up less space and utilized more advanced waste processing technology, but the council opted for a lagoon due to the lower long-term costs. Ochoa said the council also had to consider the challenge of finding someone qualified to operate the more advanced plant and concluded a simpler lagoon was more appropriate.

With a specific design selected, Adkins will finalize its proposal for the project and will help the city start applying for grants and loans. Funding is expected to be finalized by next spring with construction expected to last from spring to winter of 2019.

Because funding is not yet secured, it is unknown specifically how the new plant will impact sewer rates, as this will be determined by how many grants versus loans the city acquires. Sewer rates are currently $40.45 per month for residential and $$41.75 for commercial, though these may be changing after the city completes a water/sewer rate study currently being conducted by non-profit Rural Community Assistance Corporation.

To read this article and others on the H&N website, please refer to the link below:

Chiloquin to Pursue $3.2M Sewer Plant (H&N)