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City of Columbia City 1840 Second Street, PO Box 189, Columbia City, OR 97018 (503) 397-4010 |
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Sewer Department
The Sewer Department is responsible for the
operation and maintenance of the sewer collection system. The City's sewer collection system is a
Septic Tank Effluent Gravity (STEG) system and consists of approximately 13
miles of small diameter sewer lines.
Four sewer lift stations (Forest Park on Tahoma Street, "K"
Street on Fifth Street, Pixie Park on The Stand, and River Club Estates on the
south end of Second Street) assist in the sewer flow. A six-inch force main sends the gray water to the City of St.
Helens for treatment. A flow meter vault is located at the Crestwood
Manufactured Home Park on Oregon Street in St. Helens.
There are currently 803 sewer connections. 278 connections are direct flow into the
sewer collection system, while the remaining 525 connections share 465 septic
tanks (409 concrete and 56 steel).
There are also 23 small sewer pumps to overcome elevation problems. In addition to the above numbers, 17 new
tanks were recently installed are awaiting construction. The City is responsible for the maintenance
and replacement of all of the septic tanks connected to the system, as well as the
small pumps that were in place when the City's sewer system was
constructed. The City is also
responsible for pumping the septic tanks.
The Sewer Collection Maintenance Department is
funded entirely by charges for service and other sources.
The Sewer Department is staffed by the
Public Works Superintendent, Micah Rogers, and two Utility Workers. The
Public Works Superintendent is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day
operations and the development of the City sewer system, and for supervising the
sewer system maintenance staff. Micah can be reached by e-mailing
mrogers@columbia-city.org. The
department can be reached by calling (503) 366-0454, or faxing to (503)
366-2870. Their mailing address is PO Box 189, Columbia City, OR
97018. The City Shop is located at 1755 Second Place.
PRIOR YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Septic tanks were pumped as part of our five-year
pumping schedule. The Department is
preparing to replace the check valves and gate valves in the City's
high-pressure sewer main within the River Club Estates (RCE) Subdivision in an
effort to reduce water hammer within the section of the system between the RCE
sewer pump station and Fourth Street.
DEPARTMENT OBJECTIVES FOR 2010-11:
To seek and obtain funding for the Wastewater
Telemetry, Monitoring and Alarm System project identified in the Five-Year
Capital Improvement Plan. Target
date: December 2010.
To upgrade older, failing steel septic tanks, which
have an estimated life expectancy of 20 years, with concrete tanks throughout
the system. Target date: June 2011.
To retrofit existing septic tanks by raising
accesses, installing clean outs, etc., for easier maintenance. Target date: Ongoing.
To continue to implement the five-year septic tank
pumping plan to prevent sewer backups. Target date: Ongoing.
To work towards eliminating shared septic tanks as
resources permit, in an effort to further reduce sewer backups, through the
either the addition of new tanks or system upgrades resulting in direct
flow. Target date: Ongoing.
To continue to work towards the prevention of
inflow and infiltration of sewer lines in an effort to reduce the amount of
sewer flow, which saves treatment fee costs and adds system capacity. Target date: Ongoing.
To continue to meet all requirements and
regulations governing sewer systems through upgraded facilities and
well-educated staff. Target date: Ongoing.
To emphasize special training and education of
department employees. Target date: Ongoing.