HomeMy WebLinkAboutUIC SummaryDESCHUTES COUNTY UIC INFORMATION
January 6, 2010
• A UIC (Underground Injection Control) is any system, structure, or activity that is created
with the intent to manage surface water runoff (from rain or snow) directly into the
subsurface. These may be more commonly referred to as dry wells, drill holes, injection
wells, etc.
• The DEQ regulates UICs under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act in order to protect
existing groundwater quality. DEQ requires that all UICs be inventoried, registered, and
permitted.
• In 2008, DEQ notified owners of UICs that we had to come into compliance with the
regulations or face possibility of fines and enforcement. If owners “confessed” to DEQ the
existence of UICs and submitted a letter of intent to comply with the regulations, then DEQ
agreed to hold off on any penalties.
• Deschutes County retained the services of Hickman Williams Associates (HWA), a local
civil engineering firm that has specialization in UICs, to conduct an inventory of our UICs,
make recommendations regarding the best way to achieve compliance, and to submit the
initial DEQ permit application.
• Hickman Williams conducted an inventory of all UICs located on county-owned property
and roadways. The study showed that the County had 61 UICs located at 9 different
facilities, and 22 UICs in public right-of-ways in the La Pine and Terrebonne areas. The
DEQ requires a fairly detailed description of each individual UIC and the surrounding site.
• HWA’s assessment included a preliminary estimate of capital improvements necessary to
achieve compliance. I have included the table below:
Facility Name Estimated Cost of Improvements
Warehouse/IT Building $ 23,700
CDD/Maier 120,500
DSB/Admin Building 140,600
Historical Building 39,700
Health Services Building 72,000
Public Safety Complex (jail/juvenile/work ctr) 260,000
Public ROW 210,000
Fairgrounds 45,000
Becky Johnson Center 19,600
Total Projected Capital Cost: $ 931,500
NEXT STEPS
• Deschutes County recently submitted our application to DEQ for a Water Pollution Control
Facility (WPCF) permit for our UICs. We will now be working closely with DEQ to begin
the permitting process and developing a plan for achieving compliance with our UICs.
• County needs to prioritize the required capital improvements and develop a funding source
to pay for such.