PMR seeks sewer approval

New Sisters Village will likely have a sewer system before the City of Sisters breaks ground on theirs.

PMR Devco, LLC, applied for a Water Quality Waste water Discharge Permit with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Steve McGhehey, PMR developer and partner, expects that the state will approve their application.

"When approved, we would begin work on (the sewer) within 90 days," McGhehey said.

The City of Sisters, on the other hand, is not planning to advertise bids until January 2, 2000, according to City Administrator Barbara Warren.

"The Forest Service process is a lengthy (one)," Warren explained, referring to the steps necessary to site the full-size waste water treatment facility.

PMR's system involves a much smaller design with a septic tank effluent (STE) collection system and small aerated lagoon. They also plan to irrigate pasture with excess waste water.

According to DEQ Section Manager Dick Nichols, project engineers considered the use of a large recirculating gravel filter. This design would have been much smaller than that proposed by opponents to the recently passed sewer bond measure in Sisters.

"This (type of ) drain field is sized for the density that is within the criteria for on-site systems," Nichols said.

According to McGhehey, the City of Sisters and PMR are cooperating to ensure that the two systems are compatible.

"All of our systems are designed to switch over when the city comes on line," he said.

The Waste water Discharge Permit would go into effect within two weeks after the end of the public comment period, according to DEQ Water Quality Specialist Tom Hall.

The public is invited to comment on the permit application. Written comments are due by 5 p.m., Monday, August 17, and should be mailed to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Attn: Tom Hall, 2146 N.E. Fourth Street, Suite 104, Bend, OR 97701.

Questions on the proposed permit may be addressed to Tom Hall at 388-6146, ext. 250.