City of Sandpoint seeking input on wastewater plant reconstruction project

Officials considering an $80M-$130M bond measure in Nov. to fund the work

By Zach Hagadone
Reader Staff

Sandpoint City Hall is soliciting public feedback on the long-running effort to reconstruct the wastewater treatment plant through a survey announced July 25.

Respondents are invited to fill out the questionnaire until it closes on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Among the prompts are rating the level of awareness about the current state of the wastewater plant and its infrastructure challenges, as well as gauging approval for a bond measure on the November 2025 ballot to pay for some or all of the needed improvements.

Specifically, the survey outlines that a full reconstruction could run to about $130 million; however, “Due to this substantial cost, the city may pursue an initial phase covering the most critical needs, estimated at approximately $80 million, with a second phase occurring at a later date,” the survey states.

“Without bond funding or other financing, the city would still be required to replace the aging wastewater treatment plant to meet environmental regulations,” survey authors added. 

If the work is delayed or lengthened by a phased approach, the survey states that the city may be faced with state or federal fines for water quality non-compliance, as well as “significant increases” in monthly sewer rates to fund emergency repairs or mandated upgrades, higher future costs due to inflation and further deterioration of infrastructure.

The central question on the survey asks whether residents would support a bond measure in November to fund the “critical phase” of $80 million or for the full $130 million — knowing that both options would result in higher utility bills.

For instance — based on the initial $80 million option, a hypothetical $100 monthly utility bill would increase to $160 over five years, or from $100 to $206 over five years for the more permanent fix.

The survey takes about five minutes to complete, and does not require the disclosure of personal information. Find it at survey.zohopublic.com/zs/5fD9Ks.

In a news release, the city described the treatment plant as “aging and undersized,” with reconstruction necessary because of “deteriorating infrastructure, regulatory mandates, and extreme flows caused by inflow and infiltration in the sewer system.”

“The city’s current wastewater treatment plant, originally constructed using salvaged equipment from Farragut Naval Station in the 1950s, is approaching the end of its useful life,” city officials stated. “The equipment is outdated, and the plant cannot reliably meet requirements under its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.” 

Pointing to specific instances when rain-on-snow events resulted in “dramatic increases in wastewater volume,” City Hall explained that flows can top 10 million gallons per day — twice the capacity for which the plant is currently rated.

That puts the city in danger of “significant environmental harm and large federal Clean Water Act fines of up to $64,618 per day,” officials stated.

Before putting any bond measure on the ballot, however, City Hall stated that community input is needed to accurately reflect the public’s sense of urgency for the reconstruction project.

“This survey is part of our commitment to transparency and community engagement,” stated Sandpoint Public Works Director Holly Ellis. “We want to hear from residents about how they view the city’s wastewater services and how we can plan responsibly for the future.”

Added Mayor Jeremy Grimm: “We cannot fund this project on rates alone. The only path forward is to combine local bonding with aggressive pursuit of state and federal grant funding. This survey helps us understand how residents view our wastewater needs and the value of long-term investment.”