POST FALLS - Post Falls' new wastewater plan, driven by the Spokane River cleanup that will raise sewer rates, will be presented during a public open house on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at City Hall.

City staff and representatives from JUB Engineers, the consultant the city used to develop the plan, will be available to discuss the planning work, take verbal and written comments and answer questions.

"The bottom line is that everyone using the treatment system will have to participate in funding the improvements needed to meet regulatory requirements and that will mean rate increases," said Paul Klatt of JUB Engineers. "New users who need capacity available when they are ready to hook up will help pay their fair share through a capacity fee at the time of connection."

How much rates will increase hasn't been determined, but are expected to be discussed and presented this summer, Klatt said. He said he realizes it's the burning question.

"People really want to know just how much is being expected of them and the sooner we can get a frame around that, the better participation we will get," he said.

The open house will seek input on whether the system could convert to complete wastewater reuse through land application or other methods versus continuing with discharging to the river.

"With this input, we will finalize the analysis and present detailed costs as part of the more formal public review process of the entire facility plan in June," Klatt said. "That analysis will have the potential rate and fee impacts for recommended options.

"Costs are being honed and will be honed further with this feedback (from the open house)."

Klatt said rates will increase over the next five to 10 years - not all at once - to meet treatment requirements.

When asked if rates could be double what they currently are in several years, Klatt said, "Double is probably on the very upper end of anything that we have talked about. Triple does not seem realistic."

But Klatt said residents should be prepared for rate hikes regardless.

"Some of the treatment regulations are pushing into uncharted territory so realism seems to get new boundaries every day," he said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to issue new wastewater discharge permits for the Spokane River in Idaho this year. In addition to Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene and the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board discharge to the river.

The permits will call for efforts to remove phosphorous from the river and require wastewater treatment improvements. Phosphorus encourages algae growth, which then depletes oxygen from the water that fish need to live.

Post Falls' plan, which focuses on improvements needed for the next 20 years, costs $250,000 and includes a financial analysis of the ways to apportion rates and fees plus a document to qualify the city for a low-interest state loan. The plan was funded by Water Reclamation Division enterprise funds generated by user fees and capitalization fees.

"What we want for the open house is a discussion along the lines of 'Here are some of the challenges we are facing and here are some of the ideas we are considering. What do you think?'" Klatt said.

Regardless of the discharge location - the river or on land - Post Falls will need improvements with biosolids handling, disinfection and biological process expansion.

"If the city stays in the river, then an outfall expansion is needed and if pure reuse is the preference, then substantial additional irrigated land is needed," Klatt said.

Open house

n An open house to present Post Falls' new wastewater master plan, answer questions and seek input will be held on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at City Hall, 408 N. Spokane St.