Following is a brief summary of a few changes proposed in the rule revisions.

• Clarifies procedures related to evaluating the influence of surface water on groundwater sources and associated testing requirements.
• Turbidity monitoring is required for both surface water sources and groundwater sources under the influence of surface water.
• Requires that water treatment plants have an auto-dial callout alarm or auto shutoff when high turbidity levels are detected.
• When making system repairs or performing new system installations, after appropriate disinfection has occurred, two coliform samples, taken at least 24 hours apart, will be required prior to placing the system back in service.
• Clarifies DBPR monitoring requirements
• Requires water systems serving more than 3,300 people to have an auto-dial callout alarm or automatic shutoff related to low chlorine residual levels when chlorine is used as a disinfectant.

The public comment period for the proposed changes closed December 24, 2012.  The rules took effect on January 25, 2013. More information is available on the DWP’s Rules & Implementation Guidance webpage at http://public.health.oregon.gov/HealthyEnvironments/DrinkingWater/Rules or feel free to contact Dave Wildman, P.E., in our office at 541-963-8309 if you would like to discuss how these rule changes may affect your water system operations.

• For 2013, the DEQ encourages applications to be submitted by January 11, May 10, and September 13.
• Interest rates are low, currently ranging from 0.94 percent for planning loans up to 2.44 percent for design and construction loans.
• Principal forgiveness, which is where a portion of the loan balance is forgiven (meaning it does not have to be paid back), is being offered first to communities with less than the statewide median household income.  This is a relatively new feature of the CWRLF program.
• To qualify for the CWRLF, the small community population limit has been raised from 5,000 to 10,000.  Thus, most all communities in eastern Oregon are now considered small. 

The CWRLF receives a considerable funding allocation each year, and has funds available at this time.  This is an excellent program to help meet wastewater system needs.  If you have questions about this funding program or other programs, please feel free to contact Brad Baird, P.E., at 541-963-8309.  The DEQ contact for this program is Shanna Bailey.  Shanna is an excellent resource who can help you with all of the CWRLF program details. 

The project limits were Elm and Depot Streets and Washington and Jefferson Streets.  Improvements were made on Elm, Depot, Jefferson, and Adams Avenue.  In addition, the connecting alleys within the project limits were also improved with the undergrounding of electrical conduits to serve the new ornamental light poles, concrete resurfacing, and new ADA compliant driveway approaches.  In order to minimize disturbances to downtown businesses, the project was completed in stages.

Improvements included installing new sidewalks, new decorative stamped concrete behind the curb, new pedestrian ramps, new ornamental light poles, underground electrical conduit, and an underground irrigation network.  In addition, street furniture such as benches, litter receptacles, and bicycle racks were also installed.

Construction funding, which utilized local Urban Renewal District taxes and a loan through the Local Oregon Capital Assets Program sponsored by the League of Oregon Cities and Association of Oregon Counties, was approved by the City Council in January 2012.

In selecting an engineering firm, an owner or manager should be guided by one primary consideration: the qualifications of the firm for the specific project. A design professional should be selected by the same criteria that apply to choosing a physician, attorney, or other reputable professional – most importantly, skill, reputation, experience, technical competence, and commitment to the client’s interest.

At the end of a project, high-quality engineering services represent only a small percentage of the overall project cost, yet they can significantly affect and influence the cost of construction, the ability of the project to meet the owner’s objectives, and long-term operational costs. Higher quality engineering employed up front usually results in lower bids, saving owners money and headaches during construction. High quality engineering also saves money over the life of the improvements.

Since 1975, AP has developed a solid reputation for providing high-quality engineering services. Over the years, we have partnered with many organizations to help them achieve their civil infrastructure goals while also helping save construction and ownership costs. We welcome the opportunity to assist with your next project.

Co-funded by the Bonneville Power Administration and the ODFW, the concrete walls of the original diversion were removed and replaced. The original step-pool structure restricted both adult and juvenile upstream fish passage and was modified to improve passage and habitat for all native fish species occurring in the Lostine River. The aging concrete fish ladder was replaced with a roughened channel composed of boulders and streambed simulation material, making it appear as a more natural river channel. In order to minimize the channel grade, the roughened channel was constructed to be approximately 350 feet long and involved re-grading the existing channel. Woody debris structures with rootwads were also installed to increase fish habitat.

In order to accomplish the in-water work, one side of the river was temporarily moved to one side of the channel at a time. Work occurred during the summer, including partly during the last part of the annual Chinook salmon run. While most of the Chinook had already passed through, electroshocking was conducted to salvage the remaining fish and transport them out of the project area. In order to ensure that fish reached their spawning grounds, Nez Perce Fisheries also trucked salmon upriver.

AP provided design and construction engineering services. The design included creating a Hydrologic Engineering Centers River Analysis System model for the reach.

The food drive at the AP office began October 9 and ran through October 25, while the community drive was held October 15 through November 3. Collected food is distributed to local food banks including the Cove Food Bank, Elgin Food Bank, Neighbor to Neighbor Ministries, North Powder Food Bank, Union Food Bank, Community Connection, Salvation Army, Shelter from the Storm, and United Way.

Through their donations, AP employees once again went above and beyond the call of duty. As in previous years, the company matched all employee donations. Donations included canned fruits and vegetables, boxed meals, pet supplies, and cash donations.

The CAN Food Drive only initiates the season of giving at AP. Each holiday season, AP also donates to the Blue Mountain Animal Shelter, Shelter from the Storm, area elementary school libraries, and the Salvation Army.

Parker Community Water System

The Parker community, located along U.S. Highway 97 north of Toppenish on the Yakama Indian Reservation, was without a community water system. The community’s nearly 300 residents relied on private wells, which were not appropriately set back from septic systems, to supply their water. Many of the wells lacked a proper sanitary seal.

In 2009, the Yakama Nation teamed with AP to complete a preliminary design report, design drawings, technical specifications, and contract documents for the project’s construction. The project was designed to provide the Parker Community with a reliable water system meeting the needs of the community for many years to come.

The project involved numerous components, including drilling a new primary well with an associated pump station, housing water treatment systems, a motor control center, and system operational controls. A new 350,000-gallon steel standpipe reservoir and system-wide distribution system piping were also developed. In addition, the project included automated controls to monitor system pressures and well water levels and adjust well pump operation based on either system pressure or declining well water level. A polyphosphate water treatment system was also installed to address high iron and manganese levels.

Today, customers in the community are provided with a much more reliable and safe source of water. They no longer have to worry when they turn on their water faucets if there is an adequate supply of water, if their neighbor’s septic system is contaminating their water supply, or if their well will go dry in the summer months. Several residents have commented on how nice it is to know the water is safe to drink and that when they turn the faucet, the water will be there.

Edith and Carrie Infrastructure Repair and Replacement Plan

The City of Walla Walla is the 5th oldest city in Washington and with age comes decay. In 2009, the City assessed that 115 of its 140 street miles were failing. Aging water lines buried beneath the streets were leaking a billion gallons of water each year and failing sewer pipes were increasing public health risks and impacting the groundwater below.

With the support of residents and businesses, the City of Walla Walla created the IRRP to tackle the enormous task of upgrading underground public utilities and streets. The Edith and Carrie neighborhood was prioritized for IRRP construction in 2012 for a number of reasons. The street surfaces had failed – street corridors lacked sidewalks, ADA accessible features, and lighting. Undersized and leaking water mains provided inadequate service and low water pressure. Sewer pipes had deteriorated.

The City hired AP to complete the project design. AP and Commitment to Community, a neighborhood support organization, spoke with all residents during individual visits and three neighborhood outreach meetings prior to construction. During construction, bi-weekly construction progress newsletters were provided to residents.

The project successfully provided residents with new streets. Sidewalks were a much needed new feature for connectivity both internal and external to the neighborhood. The same holds true for the new bus transit stop and new street lighting. Through complete utility replacement, water and sewer services were revitalized. The neighborhood now has the public infrastructure needed to thrive. The Edith and Carrie neighborhood has become a source of pride to the entire City of Walla Walla.