Lebanon directors flag utility capital needs: $70M wastewater estimate, membrane replacements and infiltration concerns
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Summary
Public works and engineering directors told the budget committee of aging infrastructure and regulatory pressures: costly wastewater treatment upgrades (staff estimate ~$70 million), frequent membrane replacements at the water treatment plant, a $350,000 lateral replacement program and pending approvals tied to Corps of Engineers drawdown work.
City directors outlined several near- and long-term capital pressures for Lebanon's utility systems during the budget presentation.
Public Works Director Jason Williams described ongoing operations and projects across parks, streets, water and wastewater. Williams said water meter replacement is about 85% complete and the department plans mixers for two reservoirs to improve water quality. He described the collections system's effort to reduce inflow and infiltration that now produces large storm-driven spikes at the wastewater plant; Williams noted flows can jump from routine 2.5 million gallons per day to 18 million gallons per day during major rain events.
City staff told the committee the impending Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations affecting biosolids land application have significantly increased disposal costs; Williams cited present disposal runs that use multiple dumpsters and estimated $6,300 per dumpster to send biosolids to the landfill under current constraints.
Engineering staff and the City Manager told the committee the wastewater master plan and permit renewal are pending DEQ action; the city has set aside about $20 million but staff estimated a planning-level need on the order of $70 million to address required wastewater treatment improvements over several years. The budget includes a $350,000 sanitary sewer lateral replacement program to reduce infiltration and improve treatment plant performance.
Finance and public works staff also noted recent or expected capital items: potential rehabilitation of a 'skip pond' adjacent to Industrial Way, proposed drainage improvements on Second Street, crack sealing and SDC-eligible projects the city wants to keep ready for bid. Staff described a cost driver at the water plant: membrane filtration elements with an expected life of 10'15 years are being replaced sooner and more frequently than anticipated, increasing operating costs.
City staff said they are pursuing grant and federal funding opportunities and a lawsuit related to a Corps of Engineers drawdown to recoup costs where feasible, and will continue to prioritize projects and seek outside funding. The committee included the planned utility projects and replacement program in the adopted budget package forwarded to council for final adoption.
