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Sandpoint briefed on wastewater plant failures, DEQ inspection and bond planning
Summary
City staff reported two recent wastewater treatment plant incidents, a DEQ on-site inspection stemming from a notice of deficiency, and a preliminary engineering report and bond plan targeting construction financing in November.
City public works staff told the Sandpoint City Council on March 19 that two recent operational incidents at the wastewater treatment plant prompted a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) inspection and will shape planning for a plant replacement project.
Public Works Director Holly Ellis said DEQ conducted a desktop audit and on-site inspection after a notice of deficiency tied to a recent pump failure and a subsequent E. coli exceedance during a rain-on-snow event. "They came up and they were able to see the plant and see some of our challenges," Ellis said. She described the pump failure as tied to older wiring, a power/SCADA issue and staff are still investigating; DEQ terms the event an "upset." Ellis said the city will finalize its investigation and submit a formal corrective-action response to DEQ.
Ellis told council the city's preliminary engineering report (PER) is proceeding on schedule; a draft PER is expected in April. She said environmental permitting is being initiated in parallel, and the city intends to prepare for a bond vote in November. Ellis noted that Sandpoint is currently low on DEQ's permit-review queue (she said the city was number 60) and that the city is seeking to expedite review so permit requirements are clearer before construction.
Ellis confirmed recent near-term failures: a pump outage that caused an overflow and an E. coli exceedance during storm conditions. She said staff notified DEQ and will document corrective steps for the agency. "We're still trying to figure out the purpose or the reason behind the pump essentially ... old wiring power source SCADA issue," Ellis said.
Council members and the mayor thanked staff and noted the incidents' public-health sensitivity. Ellis also provided standard project updates: ongoing sewer-main work on Boyer Avenue (daytime closures) expected to finish this week, a bridge rehabilitation on schedule, a lift-station project at City Beach moving as planned, and a parking-lot resurfacing project that will be advertised for bid and start in April.
No formal council action was taken; staff said they will bring the PER and further updates to council when the draft is available.
