HomeMy WebLinkAboutSunriver Sewer Facility 521 SW 6th Street, Suite 100
Redmond, Oregon 97756
Phone: (541) 504-9960 FAX: (541) 504-9961
Memorandum
To: Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners
Date: August 8, 2008
From: Dick Nichols
Project Name: Sunriver
Subject: Grant for Feasibility Study for
Extending Sewers from
Sunriver and Reusing Treated
Effluent
Project No.: 1053-102
Sunriver Environmental LLC is currently in the process of upgrading its sewerage facility to
meet DEQ-mandated treatment requirements required by the existing Sunriver wastewater
disposal permit. This event presents a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to economically expand
the treatment plant and reuse facilities to provide service to areas south of Sunriver that are
currently served by inadequate septic systems. The DEQ is very interested in exploring this
possibility and has granted a time extension to the Sunriver sewerage treatment plant upgrade
process to allow interested parties to explore the feasibility and possibility of taking advantage of
this window of opportunity.
There would seem to be local interest for sewer service, but there are also questions about the
feasibility and cost of providing this service. These issues could be defined and answered
through a feasibility study.
Currently, the Oregon Water Resources Department has grant money’s available to conduct
feasibility studies on effluent reuse. Applications for the grant to conduct the feasibility study
are due September 2, 2008. The grant requires a 50% match. The application must demonstrate
that the match money is secured.
The feasibility study would analyze the following issues:
1. Potential areas south of Sunriver that could be cost effectively served through an
expansion of the Sunriver sewerage facilities.
2. Estimated costs of extending sewers to those areas south of Sunriver.
Sunriver Sewer Facility.doc
Newton Consultants Memorandum Page 2
August 8, 2008
3. Estimated costs of locating and expanding Sunriver sewage treatment and reuse facilities
to accommodate expanded service area outside of Sunriver.
4. How current mandated upgrade costs and potential system expansion costs would be
allocated between current users and potential, new users outside Sunriver.
5. Options for creating a public jurisdiction that would collect revenue, obtain grants, and
administer to the construction, operation and maintenance of the sewage collection
system and which would contract with Sunriver for treating and reusing treated effluent.
6. Changes to land use ordinances necessary to allow for extension of sewers.
7. Alternatives for financing the construction, operation and maintenance of the sewerage
facilities.
A very cursory, ball park figure for the feasibility study is estimated to be $150,000. The match,
then, would be $75,000. This figure would be refined when the application is prepared.
The purpose of bringing this matter to the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners is to
request:
a. Deschutes County to provide the 50% match.
b. Deschutes County staff to help Sunriver prepare the application for the grant.