Septic System Assistance program
Approximately 4,000 homes in the McKenzie River Watershed upstream of EWEB's drinking
water intake at Hayden Bridge rely on septic systems to dispose of their wastewater
and sewage.
A typical septic system uses a tank to capture solids and a subsurface drainfield
where liquid waste is allowed to percolate through the soil, which acts as a natural
filter. Approximately 10 to 25% of septic systems fail, often releasing untreated
wastewater into the underlying groundwater and/or nearby surface water.
While EWEB's water-filtration plant is designed to continually treat the raw water
from the McKenzie River, increases in contaminants from failed septic systems could
result in increased water treatment costs and reduced drinking water quality and
taste.
Learn about EWEB's zero-interest loan and cost-share programs to help homeowners in the
McKenzie Watershed proactively maintain their septic systems and drainfields and make needed
repairs to protect water quality.
EWEB received grant funds from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Program to implement the McKenzie River Septic System
Assistance Project. Read the
McKenzie River Septic System Assistance Project Final Report (November 2009, 11MB PDF).
Email us for more information, or call Nancy Toth at 541-685-7438 or
Karl Morgenstern at 541-685-7365.