Sandpoint hears DEQ audit after February SCADA upset; council briefed on replacement plan and financing options

Holly Ellis, Sandpoint public works director, told the City Council on May 21 that a SCADA electrical glitch in February briefly shut off breezeway pumps at the city’s wastewater treatment plant and allowed “3 to 500 gallons of partially treated effluent” to reach the Pend Oreille River before operators restored systems and stopped further discharge.

Ellis said the city notified the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and followed DEQ reporting protocols. “On April 28, DEQ sent a letter confirming that we are in compliance with our permit,” she said during the council meeting.

Why it matters: Ellis and council members framed the incident as evidence of the treatment plant’s aged infrastructure and constraints on capacity. The plant’s nominal capacity is about 5 million gallons per day (mgd) and typical daily flow about 2 mgd, Ellis said, but wet-weather events can push flows closer to 10 mgd. The city has pursued long-range replacement planning and funding options because older structures and recurring inflow-and-infiltration make the facility increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain.

What DEQ found and what the city is doing: DEQ’s on-site audit identified a mix of permit violations and “areas of concern,” Ellis said. Issues included reporting gaps and documentation, mold in the headworks building (the city has contracted for remediation and will add HVAC), leaking underground pipes being scheduled for repair, and deteriorating mechanical equipment. Ellis described the belt (screw) presses that dewater solids as “on their last leg” and said replacement of those presses is a planned bridge improvement already budgeted for this year.

Ellis summarized the city’s next steps: submit a preliminary engineering report prepared by Keller & Associates (now under third‑party review by Stantec), proceed with permitting, and begin design. The city has engaged bond counsel and plans to hire a financial adviser and public‑relations firm to support a November bond election to pay for a new plant or related improvements.

Funding and regulatory context: Ellis said federal and state funding streams are constrained. The city has applied for State Revolving Fund (SRF) support and is ranked high in the state, but SRF funding remains limited. Ellis said the state might only be able to offer roughly $30 million in loan assistance; other federal rural development programs and grant sources are currently limited as well. City leaders said they are talking with congressional staff about possible regulatory relief for high, short‑term flows that drive plant sizing and cost.

Council reaction and follow-up: Council members thanked staff for the response and troubleshooting. Councilor Kyle Schreiber asked whether recent SCADA investments were related to the upset; Ellis said the incident was unrelated to the recent larger SCADA upgrades and that the city has been balancing targeted repairs with the planned replacement. Councilor Rick Howarth asked whether DEQ could do regular audits as a preventive measure; Ellis said DEQ had been “tremendous to work with” and that more frequent visits could be discussed.

What’s next: The preliminary engineering report will be presented to council when complete, and that will kick off design and permitting. Ellis said the city will proceed with community education and a formal outreach campaign ahead of any bond measure and will return to council with specific funding proposals and timelines.