North Santiam Sewer Authority
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm a Local Resident
You can find estimated project timelines here. It is expected that Project A (Mill City and Gates) will be completed in 4-5 years (2026-2027) and Project B (Detroit and Idanha) will be completed in 5-6 years (2027-2028). We encourage you to check for updates on this website as the projects progress.
If you are a fire survivor (in Mill City, Gates, Detroit, or Idanha) intending to rebuild and move into your home within the next 4-6 years, you will need a permitted onsite septic system to service your household until sewer infrastructure is built. Contact your city hall or Marion County Building Inspection for more information about the septic repair and installation process. You can also learn more about septic regulations and maintenance by clicking here. Notably, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) intends to roll out an onsite septic financial aid program in fall 2022 that may be able to assist you with financing septic repair/replacement.
Community buy-in to the new sewer infrastructure will be essential to maintain financial and environmental stability of the project. Mill City, Gates, Detroit, and Idanha are still considering strategies for encouraging and/or requiring sewer hook-up. Check back for updates.
To date, the cities of Mill City, Gates, Detroit, and Idanha have not put any funds toward this project. Instead, funding so far has been sourced from Business Oregon and Marion County. Recently, the Oregon State Legislature approved a $50 million capital funding request from Marion County for the project (HB 5006A). Future grant funding will be sought as the project components solidify.
As engineering and design details are finalized, more information about hook-up requirements, fees, and/or fee waivers will become available. In general, maintaining a septic tank is more expensive to individual property owners than sewer hook-up. Check back for updates.
Funding so far has been sourced from Business Oregon and Marion County. In July 2021, the Oregon State Legislature approved a $50 million capital funding request from Marion County for the project (HB 5006A). As of now, Project A (Mill City/Gates, estimated cost $45M) is about 90% funded. Additional funding sources are currently being sought to finance Project B (Detroit/Idanha, estimated cost $61M).
This project is necessary to both protect the health of the North Santiam Watershed and to allow for economic development in North Santiam Canyon communities. Currently, the North Santiam River, which serves more than 200,000 people daily, is at risk of contamination by toxic septic system failures throughout the Canyon. This risk has increased due to the damage imposed by the 2020 Labor Day fires. Public sewer infrastructure will mitigate these environmental concerns and prevent the high costs of replacing old/failing septic systems from falling directly on Canyon property owners. Though Mill City already has a public sewer system, the system is overdue for upgrades that will ensure the health of the community and North Santiam River.
Reliance on onsite septic systems, which have significant land and maintenance needs, also highly limits the ability of Canyon communities to increase housing options, support the growth of businesses, or expand local tourism. Moreover, many lot sizes in the Canyon are too small to safely accommodate a septic system under current regulations, preventing the authorization of new occupancy or septic permits. Higher-density development is simply not feasible without sewer infrastructure.
Any hook-up requirements will only apply to structures within the city limits of Mill City, Gates, Detroit, and Idanha (regardless of whether they fall under Marion or Linn County jurisdiction).
Members of the North Santiam Sewer Authority, business owners, city leaders, watershed partners, and Marion County.
This project is large and will likely run into barriers along the way. You can help by staying engaged and supporting the project as it moves forward. Local leadership of the sewer project helps to ensure the needs of each community are fully represented, so be sure to communicate with your local representative on the NSSA board.
I'm a North Santiam Watershed User
Water quality is regularly monitored and tested by state and local officials. Public notification of harmful water quality is required by ORS 333-061-0042. State water quality monitoring consumer data is available at Oregon’s Drinking Water Services data access website. You can also visit this Oregon Health Authority site to learn more about drinking water safety.
Installing publicly-maintained sewer systems in the North Santiam Canyon will greatly reduce the risk of river contamination by septic system failures. This will promote the long-term health of the watershed and protect water quality for downstream users.
I'm a Contractor
All future contracting opportunities will be published on OregonBuys.
I'm a Legislator
Direct appropriations from the legislature can help the NSSA undertake planning, engineering, design and construction of sewer components; fund necessary property purchases; and support initial operations. Ultimately, the cost of the two projects (about $106M total) will need to be at least 90% covered by grant money. Although the population directly serviced by the sewer infrastructure is relatively small, the project will benefit more than 220,000 water users in a watershed that is extremely economically and environmentally valuable. For more information about the value of water in the North Santiam Basin, see this 2019 report by ECONorthwest.
If your community sources its water from the North Santiam River, you may also consider instituting a monthly watershed protection fee to contribute to the NSSA or to North Santiam Watershed protection activities.
I'm an Agency Official
Your expertise and assistance to move this project forward would be welcomed as we navigate the regulatory aspects of initiating a sewer district: for example, implementing clean water protocols; negotiating with local partners and communities; funding for real estate assets; funding for the planning, engineering, design, the construction of sewer components; and initial operations of a sewer district. Additionally, assistance in the development of immediate alternatives for those properties that are unable to comply with current septic requirements would greatly increase the successful completion of this project. If you can provide assistance, please contact us.
I'm a Supporter of Water Protection
Installing publicly-maintained sewer systems in the North Santiam Canyon will greatly reduce the risk of river contamination by septic system failures. This will promote the long-term health of the watershed and protect water quality for downstream users.
If your water source is the North Santiam River, ask your legislator to institute a monthly watershed protection fee to contribute to the North Santiam Sewer Authority and to North Santiam Watershed protection activities.
I'm a Gates Resident
The Oregon legislature has allocated $50 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to construct wastewater improvements in the North Santiam Canyon, including a joint sewer system between Gates and Mill City. This project includes a new sewer collection system in Gates that will transport wastewater to Mill City, and a new wastewater treatment plant in Mill City to serve both communities.
Surveying and field work is expected to begin in the summer of 2024. Gates sewer connections will become possible in 2026 or 2027.
Dates are subject to change.
2022: The Oregon Legislature allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the construction of wastewater improvements in the Canyon.
2023-2024:
Engineering design, permitting, and construction plan development.
2025-2026:
Construction of a new Mill City Wastewater plant and sewer main from Gates to Mill City. Construction of new sewer mains in Gates.
Mid/Late 2026:
Gates sewer connections will become possible as the new wastewater treatment plant and sewer main between Gates and Mill City online.
for the protection of our water resources, privately-owned septic systems must continue to operate until the new sewer system becomes operational in 2026.
Repairs to existing (or previously-permitted systems) may have less stringent permitting requirements. Contact the Building Inspection department in order to address these on a case-by-case basis.
Marion County Building Inspection building@co.marion.or.us (503) 585-5147
The existing plant is over capacity and lacks the necessary treatment to meet current permitting requirements for the North Santiam River basin. The new wastewater treatment plant will provide enough treatment to meet Mill City's needs plus offer sewer services to Gates.
A rate study is underway to determine what future sewer rates may look like. Sewer rates will be based on the projected cost to operate and maintain the new sewer system. Initial rate estimates are expected in 2024. The good news is that construction of the new sewer system is grant-funded; rate payers will not be expected to pay for the cost of building the new sewer system.
Construction is expected to begin in 2025, including construction of sewer mains within Gates. The new sewer system is expected to begin operation in 2026 or early 2027, which is subject to change as design and permitting progress.