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Bend outlines $185 million plan to bolster water reclamation plant redundancy, digestion and clarifier capacity
Summary
City staff presented the Water Reclamation Facility long‑term plan, citing need for an additional digester and a fourth secondary clarifier for redundancy and capacity; staff estimated roughly $185 million in capital needs over seven years and said permit renewal is near completion.
City of Bend staff presented a long‑range Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) plan that identified condition, redundancy and regulatory drivers for major capital investments over the next 20 years.
Dave, the WRF lead, told the Water Advisory Group that the city selected Corolla Engineers to lead the facility plan, which includes flow and loading projections to 2045, a condition assessment and a 20‑year capital improvement program. The plan found several near‑term priorities: an additional digester (to address reliability and a recent struvite failure), a fourth secondary clarifier for operational redundancy, and upgrades to pumping and solids‑handling systems.
The nut graf: Dave said the near‑term capital package is approximately $185,000,000 over the next seven years. He emphasized that some projects are driven by redundancy and maintainability rather than pure capacity increases. "It's going to be one of the larger capital projects that the City of Bend is going to be taking on the next five years for sure," he said.
Staff described facility operations and resource uses: the plant treats roughly 5–6 million gallons per day on average, with George providing a 6.2 MGD figure during the discussion. Treated effluent is largely discharged to Hatfield Ponds to support groundwater recharge and provide reuse options; during irrigation season about 1.2–1.4 million gallons per day can go to golf course irrigation, and pumping capacity can reach about 2.0–2.1 MGD on high demand days. The plant produces biosolids that are processed through digesters, centrifuges and drying beds; the presenter initially cited 1,400 tons per year, and a subsequent participant corrected that to about 2,200 tons per year.
Regulatory and technical context: the WRF operates under a Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) permit (discharge to ground). Dave said the plant has not meaningfully impacted groundwater quality in four decades but noted a nitrate permit criterion near 7.9 mg/L and that the plant is preparing a PFAS response plan in discussion with DEQ. Staff are also engaging energy consultants to evaluate opportunities to use digester gas (RNG pipeline tie‑in or microturbines) and are planning for future reuse infrastructure (including conduit for potential purple pipe installation).
Members asked about community messaging, rate impacts, and the tradeoffs of centralized versus upstream package plants. Dave said the next steps include finalizing the CIP and draft facility and public facilities plans, continued permitting engagement (permit renewal in public comment and close to issuance), coordination with the planning commission, and anticipated council review in the fall/winter timeframe.
A June field tour of Hatfield Ponds and parts of the plant was announced; a longtime participant also announced retirement effective June 5. There were no formal decisions or votes taken in the meeting; staff will return with refined materials and outreach plans.
