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Special Report: Area cities turning up noses at Lincoln’s ‘regional’ sewer system |
Auburn’s Wastewater Treatment Facility, located on Ophir Road, was in full processing mode Tuesday morning. Wastewater is shown in the oxidation ditch as one part of its treatment process before it is pumped into the creek in Auburn Ravine. The facility will be getting a $10 million upgrade as Auburn joins other communities in the region that opted to stay local rather than hook up to the Lincoln regional plant. Photo by Don Chaddock. |
Lake of the Pines, Colfax and now Auburn have all snubbed Lincoln’s new super sewer. Why? A lack of funding and a reluctance to hike sewer fees have left local communities with few options.
Auburn was the latest municipality to opt for upgrading their existing wastewater treatment plant rather than hooking up to Lincoln’s state-of-the-art “regional” facility.
The Auburn City Council did, however, leave the option open to participate if Lincoln can come up with more realistic numbers. Current estimates peg Auburn’s cost to go regional at up to $83 million, which would have required the city to raise sewage fees from $52.50 monthly to $90-$123.
Placer County is next to decide on its course of action after they hold a workshop on regionalization on June 10.
The issue isn’t the regional plant itself but transporting the raw sewage to the plant. There is an “oversized pipeline” that stops seven miles outside Auburn, which means the city and county, if they choose to participate, would need to construct a pipeline to connect to it.
Auburn’s wastewater is currently piped to a local treatment facility that is in need of a $10 million upgrade to make it compliant with state and federal water quality laws. The wastewater, or effluent, feeds into Auburn Ravine.
According to Jack Warren, Public Works Director for the City of Auburn, his crew is ready to proceed with improvements to the existing plant.
Auburn didn’t have much choice since the regionalization plan is still in its infancy. Moving forward with regionalization would have required approval of the Lincoln City Council and an environmental review.
“If (Auburn) wants to go regional, we’re still not there yet,” Warren said.
Warren is hopeful that after improvements are made to the existing plant, there will be funds left over to “reserve” a spot in Lincoln’s oversize pipeline. Warren said he also believes that by staying local, rates will be more affordable for Auburn residents.
“If we didn’t go regional, and we’re paying $52.50 per month, how long do you see before we get to $85 or $90 (per month)?” Auburn City Councilmember Bridget Powers asked.
“Never (that high),” said Warren. “In my opinion. The cost difference to go regional versus staying home doesn’t make sense.”
Orrin Bennet, a consultant with the Placer-Nevada Wastewater Authority, understood Auburn choosing to stay local, but urged them to move forward with regionalization.
“Taking the wastewater from a treatment plant out of a stream has (long term) environmental benefits,” Bennet said. “We could talk about fish and other aquatic life and habitats along the stream and go on and on, but I think Congressman (John) Doolittle (is asking the council) to take the longterm view.”
Many Auburn City Council members said Doolittle had called them and urged them to vote for regionalization, reminding them that he acquired $25 million for just such a project.
Warren said Auburn’s share of those federal funds would be about $4 million, leaving Auburn responsible for the remainder of the bill.
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board member Cheryl Maki, speaking as a private citizen at the City Council meeting last Monday, said that while her board supports regionalizing wastewater treatment, she didn’t believe the timing was right for Auburn’s needs.
“Placer County needs to be put on notice that we, as a city, are going to go ahead and upgrade our (own) plant,” Maki said.
Councilman Mike Holmes said he was disappointed in the lack of support from the county to go regional.
“I fault Placer County to a great degree,” Holmes said.
Mayor Keith Nesbitt said residents should write to their state and federal representatives.
“Tell them enough is enough,” Nesbitt said. “Tell them they need to include funding (mechanisms) for these mandates.”
Part of the upgrades to the existing plant include eliminating the chlorine treatment tanks and replacing them with UV treatment.
Auburn contracts with a company to oversee day-to-day operations at the facility.
The wastewater is treated biologically, chemically and through simulated natural processes such as aeration and sand filtration, according to Danny Stephens who oversees Auburn’s plant.
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