Recently the City advertised for services to assist us in establishing options for meeting temperature standards regarding the wastewater discharge into Ashland Creek from our wastewater treatment plant.  We reveiwed three proposals and determined that Carollo Engineers would best fit our needs.  Carollo had completed our Temperature Management Plan (TMP) in April of 2002.  There were two measures identified as MP-1 (Evauation of Water Recycling) and MP-4 ( Riparian Corridor Improvemnt Plan) in the TMP.

The City's revised NPDES permit, issued in 2004, included several items that relate to receiving stream temperature management:

• Schedule C requires completion of the two measures mentioned above within two years
• Schedule C also includes a requirement for the City to submit a report within three years  that details the effectiveness of measures MP-1 and MP-4, as well as providing information on daily stream flow and temperatures collected from Ashland Creek.
• Schedule B includes a requirement to monitor the treatment plant effluent and record the daily maximum temperature, and measure stream flows in Ashland Creek daily.
• The permit includes limits for excess thermo load discharged with the effluent as follows in kcals/day:   

• Oct 15- May 15--- Interim 78 million; After 55 months 21 million
• May 16- Oct 14--- Interim 38 Million; After 55 months 2.8 million

The City accepted Carollos's proposal.  The proposal was broken down into the following tasks.

• Task 1- Market evaluation and water recycling Plan (MP-1)
• Task 2- Plan riparian corridor improvements (MP-2)
• Task 3- Review and collect data
• Task 4- Project Report
• Task 5- Public involvement/Education
• Task 6- Project management

 

As part of the Task 5 component, the City has opted to establish a "Water Recycling Task Force, Ad Hoc Subcommittee".   This committee will review water recycling in the USA, Oregon and Ashland.  Among other related topics, they will discuss Oregon's regulations pertaining to the use of recycled water, what works for Ashland, along with the advantages/disadvantages of water reuse. 

Potential issues, opportunities and impediments to water recycling will be discussed.  There will be a total of four meetings.  The committee will then develop a recommendation  for the city.

Committee members include the follow:

• Brent Crowe--ODFW
• Cindy Deacon Williams--Headwaters
• Eric Dittmer-- SOU Geology Dept.
• Susan Reid--Ex City Council person
• Donna Rhee--Watershed Council
• Ron Roth--Business owner

City Staff Members include:

• Ed Olson-- Interim PW Director
• Nancy Slocum--PW Clerk
• Robert Eimstad--Carollo Engineers
• Terry Ellis-- Wastewater Supervisor
• Steve Gies- Parks Superintendent