Now in Phase 3 of the project, the City of Newberg is ready to show the new water treatment plan to the public.
Newberg City Engineer Kaaren Hofmann presented the plan for a new water treatment plant to Newberg City Council members on Monday, April 17, 2023. Hofmann explained the current state of the water treatment plant, why the need for a new plant, and the plan for building the new plant in the coming years to ensure the city will be able to keep up with a potentially growing population and emergency scenarios.
The Current Water Treatment Plant
The City of Newberg’s drinking water comes from groundwater wells on the south side of the Willamette River in Marion County, which is then transferred to Newberg Water Treatment Plant at 2200 NE Wynosky Rd. The water undergoes a filtration process that strips iron and manganese from the water.
There are two sources of non-potable water, or water that is not for consumption: Otis Springs in Newberg and a wastewater recycling program that filters wastewater for irrigation use.
The Newberg Water Treatment Plant started operations in 1953. Over the years, the facility underwent multiple upgrades, most recently in 2006. However, Hofmann notes the fixes are cost-prohibitive at this stage in the treatment facility’s lifespan, and the water treatment plant falls behind in terms of efficiency and readiness.
“The city has one source of water,” Hofmann said to the city council members and mayor. “One disaster could make this inoperable.”
The city started the process of exploring a new water treatment facility in 2019 when it did a supply analysis for the city based on population projections. In 2020, Newberg City Council approved the scope of work for the project and the city approved purchasing more water rights in January 2022.
Phase 3 is when preliminary engineering and the implementation plan starts. Earlier this month, the city approved Slayden Construction as General Manager/General Contractor for the project. Design of the new groundwater treatment plant is underway, expected to be in operation by September 2027, according to the Newberg Water Treatment Plant Open House website.
Why is Newberg Considering a New Water Treatment Plant?
Water coming from surface or ground wells is subject to pollution or mineral/chemical complexity. Therefore, water treatment plants are a vital resource in ensuring the water that makes it to your home is ready for human consumption.
Newberg’s water is “aggressive” because of it’s iron and manganese content, despite being on the medium-soft side. According to a report from Texas A&M University, “Iron and manganese can give water an unpleasant taste, odor and color.” The minerals can also cause stains on materials that are difficult to remove, and build deposits in water equipment (pipes, pressure tanks, heaters, softeners, etc) that restrict flow and reduce water pressure.
“The reason they’re called the Red Hills in Dundee,” said Dan Wilson, Superintendent at Newberg’s Water Treatment Plant. “It’s because of the dissolved iron.”
Newberg’s water comes from groundwater sources, which are far easier to filter for consumption than surface water; i.e., rivers and lakes.
“With surface water, you have bio contamination you have to deal with,” said Wilson. “It’s far more restrictive to treat surface water.”
The city is taking measures to reduce the amount of potable water (water for human consumption) used for purposes that don’t require potable water like irrigation.
Hofmann said they’re creating around 1 million gallons of non-potable water per day pumped through specific pipes. The system can create up to 2 million gallons per day, should the demand require it.
However, it is cost-prohibitive to lay new pipes for non-potable water, which need a separate pipe for distribution. Hofmann said they are currently exploring options to make non-potable water pipes, known as “purple pipes,” more accessible without putting the burden on the taxpayer. They are currently debating a city ordinance that would require new campuses or developments to finance a purple pipeline of non-potable water to their development in the future.
The goal is to reduce the strain on potable water sources by supporting more non-potable water used around the city with an emphasis on developing the non-potable water infrastructure.
The new water treatment plant has two main goals: preparing for population growth and emergency readiness.
The plan includes a second water source in case of emergency, secures water supply with a capacity to grow, and provides family wage jobs for constructing and operating the plant.
Funding for the water treatment plant comes from cash reserves, business and residential customer rates, and potentially a variety of federal and state sources, including a $720,000 grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and a $17 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan, which is a long-term, low-interest loan with friendly repayment structures.
Based on projections, the 10-year plan will not increase water rates over and above standard cost-of-living adjustments.
You can track the Newberg Water Treatment Plant Project at oursecurewater.org
