Facilities Plan Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MWMC’s comprehensive facilities plan?
The MWMC’s comprehensive facilities plan is a forecast report that analyses different collection, treatment, and resource recovery alternatives to meet the Eugene Springfield regional community’s wastewater needs through 2045.
Why is the MWMC creating a new facilities plan, is it necessary?
The MWMC is creating new facilities plan to ensure compliance with our National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit through the State of Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The permit ensures we are safely treating our community’s wastewater with high operating efficiencies and cost effectiveness, provide continued reliable and resilient service, and build public support and partnerships for the regional community’s wastewater needs.
Why do we need a three-volume facilities plan?
The three-volume Comprehensive Facilities Plan approach will help the MWMC meet its long-term wastewater treatment obligations by addressing MWMC wastewater treatment, community obligations, and the surrounding watershed holistically. Challenges of increased population, aging infrastructure, complex regulatory requirements, water resource limitations, climate change, and affordability all impact MWMC operations. The goal of the three volumes is to address competing clean water infrastructure investment needs and choose the most beneficial approaches for setting priorities and taking effective actions for achieving water quality goals.
- Volume One – Process Facilities Plan
- Volume Two – Integrated Wastewater Utility Plan
- Volume Three – Opportunities Plan
How will the plan be used after it is completed?
- Guide MWMC investments that protect our local waterways, the environment, and public health.
- Analyze wastewater treatment alternatives based on Eugene-Springfield population growth expectations, residential and industrial wastewater influent, and federal, state, and local water quality regulations.
- Ranking of wastewater treatment alternatives presented by performance and cost.
- Connecting the Eugene-Springfield community and its wastewater to the larger water quality initiatives of local watersheds and Willamette River system health.
What previous facility planning work has occurred?
In 2004 the first MWMC Facilities Plan was published after DEQ review. CH2M HILL was the contracted consultant. It was a two-volume document that enlisted the services of nine CH2M staff and a dozen Eugene and Springfield staff and took over a year to complete.
In 2014 a Partial Facilities Plan Update (PFPU) report was completed by internal staff to provide an analysis of the critical wastewater treatment process capacities relative to current estimates of influent flows and loads as well as current, recent, and anticipated regulatory changes.
How will the new facilities plan effect wastewater user rates, my monthly bill?
The new MWMC Comprehensive Facilities Plan on its own will not raise service rates. As individual capital construction projects listed in the Comprehensive Facilities Plan are identified for implementation pre-calculated System Development Charges (SDCs) will be imposed as projects are approved and put into service.
What is the project timeline?
When is the new facilities plan expected to be completed?
If everything continues as expected, we plan to complete this project in 2026.
How can I engage with the project? When will there be community engagement opportunities?
We will present on this plan to the Commission at specified regular monthly meetings. All monthly MWMC meetings are open to the public to attend.
We will post specific dates once details have been confirmed. To stay informed, sign up for the MWMC newsletter or check our project webpage periodically for updates.
How will my feedback be used?
All comments are welcome. The goal of public outreach is to inform our community and MWMC rate payers of the importance of regional wastewater planning and what construction projects can be expected over the next 20-years to keep the MWMC in compliance with regulatory standards and continue to provide high quality service. All comments will be considered during the planning process.
Is there more facility planning information available?
MWMC Comprehensive Facilities Plan information is available here.
Who can I contact if I have questions about the facility planning?
Bryan Robinson
Project Manager
City of Springfield
Development and Public Works
541-744-4154
