Wastewater FAQ

Thank you for your interest in the Wastewater Project! Please check out the Frequently Asked Question below, and if you have any additional questions, call city hall at 503-749-2030. To take a look at a timeline of the recent events in the Wastewater Project, click here. 

Q: Is this letter of support a petition to keep the utility bill lower?

A: No. The purpose of the letter of support is to demonstrate the level of community concern to the organizations that we are seeking funding from. There are many other cities facing similar situations, so it is important that we find ways to make our applications stand out from the rest. 

Q: Is my bill really going to be $300?

A: Based on our estimates, if there was no additional outside funding assistance, the monthly utility bill could increase to about $280-$290. City staff has been, and continues to work diligently on finding grants and low-interest funding options to reduce this amount as much as possible. Because the cost of operating the new system is higher, there is no way fully avoid any increase in the monthly utility bill, but the more outside funding assistance we receive, the lower that increase will be. 

Q: Why can't we just leave the wastewater system as it is?

A: The wastewater system upgrades are mandatory. If we do not upgrade the system, high daily fines by DEQ and EPA will accumulate until the system is upgraded. Upgrading the system is the lower-cost option. Check out the Wastewater Project Timeline for a better understanding of why this is necessary.

Q: Isn't there a cheaper option?

A: We had engineers review this project to figure out which option would be the best one for Aumsville. The three options assessed were sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), aerated lagoons with fixed film, and outsourcing to Salem. Of these three options, SBR was the most affordable long-term solution.  See the Wastewater Project Timeline, 2019 for more details on this.

Q: What company is constructing the facility?

A: The project is in the engineering and planning phase. The prices of these upgrades are preliminary estimates, meaning they are based on costs incurred by other communities who have constructed the same or similar facilities. Before the facility designs and construction quotes can begin, funding must be secured in order to prove to the construction companies that the project is ready to start, and capable of paying the contractors. Once the facilities plan is completed, the project will be put out for bid.