Please check here for the latest information on proposed improvements to our water system! There are a number of capital improvement projects identified in our 2023 Wastewater Facilities Plan that has been recently approved by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). These projects are planned over the next several years and will help increase the capacity of our system as well as make it more robust. Additionally, we are anticipating increasing regulatory compliance requirements that will be addressed by some of these projects.
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Timber harvest/Thinning
2024
Removal of mature trees within our irrigation area and thinning to improve waste water irrigation application and nitrogen uptake per the Silviculture Plan attached below.
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Capital Improvements
Various through 2043
The projects identified in the plan are summarized as follows (See Section 4.0, page 50):
The overall challenges facing the District in the future include keeping pace with growth and development within the region. Over the past few years,the District has realized an increase in development and new connections as lots are being subdivided, vacant lots are being constructed upon, and large scale development is embracing the region. The influx of growth is not specific to the OBSD service area but to the entire North Idaho region. Seven priority projects have been identified to increase the collection and treatment system capacities. These projects are prioritized based on the area of the system that is nearest to capacity. Primary funding for these projects is proposed through the collection of system development charges. These are fees implemented with the installation of new service connections. A system development charge is intended for the sole purpose of expanding the system capacity. The outline for future capacity improvement projects is as follows:
Project 1 - Lamb Creek Siphon – Install 8-inch pipeline parallel to the existing 6-inch pipeline.
Project 2 - Highway 57 Gravity Collection Mainline – Replace and steepen the existing gravity collection line south of the Lamb Creek / Highway 57 crossing as well as replace and steepen the existing gravity pipline north of Fairway Drive.
Project 3 - Lift Station No. 5 Upgrade – Replace the existing pumps with 2 larger pumps capable of discharging 800 gallons per minute when both pumps are in operation.
Project 4 - Second Fine Screen Installation of Headworks – Install 16-inch In-Channel Fine Screen with 1/8” openings in the headworks bypass channel.
Project 5 - Nitrogen Reduction Treatment at WWTP - Install a recirculating gravel filter at the wastewater treatment plant to reduce nitrogen in the lagoon effluent prior to the land application system.
Project 6 - Construct Lagoon Cell No. 3 consistent with the plan layout of the wastewater treatment facility from the 1998 Facility Plan.
Project 7 - Expand the Land Application areain phases. Phase I including construction of 8 acres south of the existing lagoons and adjacent to the existing irrigation distribution manifold. Phase II including installation of 8 acres on the hillside to the northeast of the lagoon cells.The total capital outlay of these projects is currently anticipated to be just over $8M. System Development Charges are intended to be the primary funding source. Additionally, the OBSD Board will be applying for Grants as appropriate to offset some of these costs and to help keep our System Development Fees as low as possible.
The full OBSD 2023 Wastewater Facility Plan can be viewed and downloaded here:
