Estacada's water infrastructure has hit a milestone. In a ceremony on Tuesday, the City was honored with a WATERS award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as reported by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. This recognition celebrated the city's groundbreaking use of funds from the Oregon Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan to kickstart the replacement of its dated 1963 wastewater treatment plant. The Oregon DEQ has extended its support to the tune of a $5.5 million low-interest loan to Estacada, paving the way for enhanced water quality and infrastructure resilience.
The EPA Regional Administrator, Emma Pokon, praised Estacada's project, highlighting the cost-effective approach and its intention to shield the Clackamas River. She said, "EPA is pleased to recognize Estacada for their effective use of tax dollars to reduce costs for their residents and protect the Clackamas River." According to a DEQ interview, Jennifer Wigal, Water Quality Administrator, also shared her pride in the project's acknowledgment. Estacada, along with a growing population, copes with the aging infrastructure that many cities face, and is set to benefit from the new treatment plant that will offer ample capacity for future growth.
The project is marked by its financial accessibility for the community, thanks in part to principal forgiveness of $500,000 within the low-interest loan. Assistant City Manager Elaina Turpin emphasized the committed future of water quality and potential economic expansion resulting from the funding. "The funding for the City of Estacada's new wastewater treatment plant ensures a sustainable solution for addressing immediate concerns for water quality and the opportunity to foster future economic growth," Turpin told the Oregon DEQ.
Mayor Sean Drinkwine also noted the project's broader ecological responsibility, stating, “The City of Estacada recognizes that there are over 300,000 drinking water users who take their water from the Clackamas River downstream from our plant. With the new plant we are able to ensure that we are good stewards of our river," as noted by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Making use of advanced membrane bioreactor technology, the new facility is expected to produce significantly cleaner effluent. It remains to be seen whether the engineered plant at 90% will meet the projected ground-breaking in the fall of 2025, with its completion expected within 18-24 months.
