Planning Effort Unlikely To Impede Cda Sewer

Fears that a regional planning effort could force Coeur d’Alene to abandon its wastewater system appear to be unfounded.

Coeur d’Alene treats about 3 million gallons of sewer water a day before dumping it into the Spokane River.

Post Falls uses the same process. Rathdrum has a contract with Post Falls, and Hayden also dumps into the river during the winter months.

In warmer months, Hayden sprays treated wastewater on agricultural land near the Coeur d’Alene Airport.

That process, called land application, is what Coeur d’Alene city leaders fear they might have to start if they become part of a regional effort to simplify rules governing Rathdrum Prairie growth.

“I just don’t see how it would be feasible to redo our system,” Mayor Steve Judy said.

But based on information from the city and the federal Environmental Protection Agency, Coeur d’Alene is not in any danger now - and maybe ever - of changing its $45 million wastewater treatment practices.

Rand Wichman, senior planner for Kootenai County, said that makes Coeur d’Alene’s decision to stay out of the Rathdrum Prairie planning process even more puzzling.

For example, if a major subdivision were to be built on the prairie, it would help Coeur d’Alene if the development sprayed its waste on fields rather than add more burden to the city’s sewer system, Wichman said.

Local cities are required to obtain discharge permits from the EPA to dump treated wastewater into the Spokane River.

Coeur d’Alene received its latest 5-year permit on Nov. 2, said Sid Fredrickson, the city wastewater superintendent.

The city uses what’s called “secondary treatment,” which separates solids and speeds up the normal biological process so that the water dumped in the river is as clean or cleaner than river water, Fredrickson said.

The city’s plant can handle double its current use. If the city were to expand into its area of impact, the estimated use would be four times what it now treats, Fredrickson said.

“I don’t know how long that will take,” he said.

Bub Loiselle, wastewater manager for the EPA office in Seattle, said as technology advances, cities will be expected to use new processes that result in cleaner water. But those cities will be able to react to the new regulations.

“My crystal ball tells me that the permits will be more restrictive … but won’t be refused,” Loiselle said.

See related story under the headline: CdA hesitant to join prairie planning