Wastewater fees to increase about 10 percent in Eugene.

Byline: Edward Russo The Register-Guard

Sewer and storm water rates for a typical Eugene homeowner will rise a combined $2.69 a month, with the money going to help cut pollution in the Willamette River and to free cash for fixing the city's bumpy streets.

The rate increase will help prevent the discharge of raw sewage into the river and finance other initiatives to improve the city's water quality, said Becky Carlson, administrative manager in the Public Works Department.

In 2004, the city went through a detailed renewal process for a storm water discharge permit from the state Department of Environmental Quality, Carlson said. The permit is required of large cities under the federal Clean Water Act.

"The new permit is more stringent in terms of water quality monitoring, reporting and addressing problem pollutants" such as fecal coliform and E. coli, Carlson said.

Sewer fees for an average Eugene home will rise $1.55 monthly, and storm water rates will increase $1.14 a month, she said. With the rate increases, a typical homeowner's combined monthly storm water and sewer bill would grow to $28.16 a month, up from the current $25.47.

The two rate hikes will generate an extra $1.7 million annually that will be spent in a range of ways, Carlson said.

For example, $326,000 will be used to hire staff who will review building plans and inspect and enforce stricter water runoff rules for new development.

Another $300,000 will be used to buy stream corridors in order to improve water quality in the creeks and drainages that lead to the Willamette.

And $655,000 will be devoted to planting street trees and maintaining medians, Carlson said. Until now, money for those purposes came from the city's road fund. With the City Council's approval, officials plan to shift the obligation to storm water ratepayers in order to free money to fix streets.

Also, the sewer rate increase will help the city fix cracked sanitary sewer lines that fill with rainwater during heavy rains, Carlson said. During those times, the metro treatment plant on River Avenue in north Eugene can be overwhelmed and plant managers discharge raw sewage into the Willamette River, she said.

Residents today can attend a public hearing at City Hall to learn more about the increases.

Unless the City Council requests a review, City Manager Dennis Taylor is scheduled to approve them effective May 21, Carlson said. The increases would appear on residents' Eugene Water & Electric Board bills after July 1, she said.