Bonneville Power cuts “right of way”

Chief wastewater superintendent Ardith Lewis, gave her treatment plant report at the regular August city council meeting taking questions from the council and the audience, as the department heads all do.

Lewis, in her report, explained about a complaint from two people canoeing in Tenmile Creek that were reportedly sprinkled while the plant was irrigating with effluent (level IV) and how the sprinkler had reached the creek, unbeknown to plant staff. The hayfield is adjacent to the south sewer plant.

Bonneville has power lines running through the field and traditionally cuts away vegetation when it reaches a certain height in their right of way.

The cut had just been completed removing a border of willows 20 feet high from along that stretch of creek which had created a natural buffer keeping the sprinklers from spraying directly into the creek during windy conditions.

Willows on left and right of power line. You can see sprinkler in distance on left.

Each year erosion from the creek eats away at the edges of the field, the creek has changed its coarse due to the rise of waters in the wet season.

The winds at the time were strong, coupled with the above reasons four feet of over spray was introduced into the creek.

Lewis stated, “when the complaint came to us we immediately assessed the sprinklers discovering there was an effect, especially during the wind.”

The irrigation began on July 15, Bonneville Power came through the next day, apparently the complaint came in over the week-end.

Lewis went on to say,” we are sorry this occurred, it was a very short span of time, and we are resolving all problems.”

Additionally Lewis was asked about the quality of the water sprayed and how it compares to drinking water? She explained,” level IV is as good as you can get before drinking quality”

Sheila Heley, made a statement under citizen input concerning the reported complaint from someone canoeing  Tenmile creek and getting sprinkled with (level four water) during the irrigating of the hayfield. Heley referred to the level IV water as “poop.”

Heley also wanted to know about testing for chlorine in Tenmile Creek near the out flow from the South plant. Mayor Schilling reminded her that DEQ is monitoring that process.

Lakesideinfo.com contacted Watershed Mike Mader, and asked if the testing took place when the pumps are on or off? “Yes,” he said, “on and off, sampling took place while it was running, plus there was testing in three sites above.”

Mader also added, “the city departments are working together to insure that the wastewater is operating within their permit.”

Hauling bio-solids to the Hilltop site commenced in July. They have to be of a certain fitness before they can be pumped and spread.

Dan Gonsalves asked Lewis about spraying at the airport. “We are working on it,” came the response. It seemed that every sprinkler head near a house or the road had been turned the wrong way. So they all had to be changed, some of the valves had wires hanging out, along with a few other issues.

Lakesideinfo.com observed the sprinkling at the airport mid August.

Airfield irrigation

Another question came about maintenance of the prison sewer line. Lewis said that the roads have just now gotten to where they can get up there to inspect the lines and when they get a minute from everything else they will get to it.

Any questions can be referred to city hall at 541-759-3011

Note: the link to the DEQ water quality standards refers to level IV water as Class A. Refer to page 19 (2.3)