Planning, Financing, and Constructing Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Challenging Economic Times

The Oak Lodge Sanitary District provides sanitary sewer and surface water management services in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. For decades, the District placed priority on low sewer rates and did not make necessary capital upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. As a result, the facility had become increasingly difficult to operate and experienced permit violations due to inadequate capacity and outmoded technology. This paper details the engineering, political, public participation, and financing strategies employed to gain overwhelming support from the community to fund the project during one of the worst recessions in United States history. Key to success was the involvement of the District's Board and citizens in decision-making in all aspects of the project: technical, financial, governmental, construction.