La Pine Project Tasks

• Work Program (Link to DEQ La Pine National Demonstration Project Page)

• Innovative Treatment  Systems

  Sampling Program

• Operation and Maintenance Program

• Groundwater Study and 3-D Model

• Loan Program

Other Information

• Project Links

• La Pine Project Main Page

• Deschutes County Home

• USGS Oregon Home

• OR DEQ Home

• EPA -  Decentralized Systems

The final task of the La Pine Project is to establish a funding program to assist homeowners with repairing and retrofitting existing systems with new and innovative technologies.  While the details are yet to be defined, the project team envisions a low-interest, revolving loan program that targets inappropriately located or failing existing systems.  Deschutes County will manage the program for the project duration.

The loan program will be designed through a public advisory committee process during 2004.  Initially, this task will require research of various lending programs that are comparative in nature to the goal of this proposal.  Information from the 3-D groundwater and nutrient transport model will be essential to these discussions.

Priority consideration will most likely be given to applicants who fall into the categories listed below. Low-income property owners that are in one of the categories listed below will be given higher priority. 

Potential Loan Application Categories:

1. Property owners with failing systems.

2. Property owners with systems where the drainfield is, at some time of the year, in contact with the groundwater.

3. Property owners with leaking tanks.  These tanks can contribute sewage effluent directly to the groundwater in the many areas of shallow water tables.

4. Property owners installing new systems.  As development occurs in the La Pine region, new on-site systems will be installed.  Growth in the La Pine region will continue.  County records indicate an average of 150 new building permits per year were issued over the past few years.  This trend is expected to continue which results in a net increase in nitrate loading to the aquifer.  The fund may provide financial assistance in installing the nitrate-reducing technologies.

Priorities for funding the different loan application categories will depend on the available funds and the outcome of the 3-D model.  The model results may suggest that certain geographic areas or ages of systems be targeted more heavily than others.