McKenzie River septic system assistance project

(Participation is now closed)

Approximately 4,000 homes in the McKenzie River watershed upstream of EWEB's drinking water intake at Hayden Bridge rely on septic systems to dispose of their wastewater and sewage.

A typical septic system uses a tank to capture solids and a subsurface drain field where liquid waste is allowed to percolate through the soil, which acts as a natural filter. Approximately 10-25% of septic systems fail, often releasing untreated wastewater into the underlying groundwater and/or nearby surface water.

While EWEB's water-filtration plant is designed to continually treat the raw water from the McKenzie River, increases in contaminants from failed septic systems could result in increased water treatment costs and reduced drinking water quality and taste.

Project goal

The McKenzie River has excellent drinking water quality. The goal of EWEB's drinking water source protection program and affiliated projects, including the Septic System Assistance Project, is to maintain this high level of quality for future generations of customers.

EWEB received grant funds from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Program to implement the McKenzie River Septic System Assistance Project. Project goals included:

  • Public education and outreach
  • Water quality monitoring
  • Free septic system inspections

EWEB provided participating homeowners with educational materials, as well as a copy of the septic system inspection report with an aerial photo showing the location of their septic system and drainfield. EWEB hired A & B Septic Service to conduct the free septic system inspections. Based on the results of the inspection, free pump-outs were available, if needed.

Maps of "higher risk" areas

The McKenzie River Septic System Assistance Project was a voluntary program for homeowners living in "higher risk" areas.

Approximately 25% of the septic systems in the McKenzie watershed were identified as posing the highest risk to drinking water sources because they met all of the following criteria:

  • Clustered with other septic systems on smaller lots
  • Located adjacent to ditches, lakes, streams or rivers
  • Located on thin or excessively permeable soils
Final report

McKenzie River Septic System Assistance Project Final Report (November 2009, 11MB PDF)

Final statistics
Summary statistics Summer 2008 Summer 2009 Total
Number of septic system inspections 320 119 439
Number of participants 252 111 363
Number of homeowners targeted 880 212 1,092
Participation percentage 28.6% 52.4% 33.2%
Tanks pumped by A&B Septic 46 49 95
Tanks pumped by third party 11 2 13
Total number of tanks pumped 57 51 108
Average sludge accumulation 7.6 inches
(291 records)		 8.9 inches
(119 records)		 4.5 inches
(41 records)
Average scum accumulation 4.4 inches
(292 records)		 4.7 inches
(119 records)		 4.5 inches
(411 records)
Average tank age 24.2 years
(105 records)		 24.5 years
(44 records)		 24.3 years
(149 records)
Average cost per inspection,
including pump-out charges		 $200 $279 $221
Number of tanks associated with
repairs/possible water quality risk		 37 18 55


Financial assistance for repairs

St. Vincent de Paul and the Lane County Regional Housing Rehabilitation Program have Community Development Block Grant loan funds available for low-to-moderate income homeowners to assist with septic system repairs. Call Celia Walker at (541) 687-5820 ext. 168 for more information.

Questions?

For more information, contact Karl Morgenstern at (541) 685-7365 or Nancy Toth at (541) 685-7438.