Large turnout for first meeting on Carlsborg sewer idea

October 27th, 2006 - 6:29am
KONP News

(Carlsborg, WA) -- A good crowd turned out last night at Greywolf School in Carlsborg for the first public meeting of a feasibility study of installing a sewer system in Carlsborg.

Carlsborg is now an Urban Growth area, and there are indications of increasing nitrates getting into the ground water due to growth in the area and possibly failing septic systems.

The Clallam County Public Utility District doesn't have the water to put in and operate a sewer system, unless get additional water rights from the state. So, last night's meeting brought citizens, PUD commissioners, engineers and county personnel together to provide as much diverse input as possible about sewer options.

PUD Commissioner Hugh Haffner says the PUD is proposing a satellite sewer system. It features smaller treatment plants and uses a membrane-type filtration system.

Large, municipal systems treat sewage with big settling tanks and some time other chemicals.

Haffner says the PUD has been working with the state to get Carlsborg approved as a pilot project involving water rights and a new sewer system.

East end Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger says he likes the idea of the smaller, satellite system for Carlsborg. Tharinger liked the fact that a satellite sewer system would be less costly than a big treatment plant.

Once the study is completed, the PUD and the county will determine what's needed to complete the project. A second public meeting will be held near the end of December, and a third and final meeting will take place in the first week in March, with final documentation due by the end of March.