Medford’s $302 Million Wastewater Facility Upgrade Takes Major Step Forward

MEDFORD, Ore. — The federally required Medford Regional Water Reclamation Facility upgrades at the Kirkland Road wastewater treatment plant in White City moved closer to completion on Friday after the city named Slayden Constructors Inc. as the project’s Construction Manager / General Contractor.

White City Water Reclamation Facility Upgrades Contractor Selected

The wastewater facility, operated by the City of Medford, provides wastewater treatment services to Medford, Central Point, Eagle Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent, and the White City area.

A new permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in August 2021 noted that the plant needed significant upgrades to stay in compliance with the federal Clean Water Act.

The DEQ permit also set significantly stricter limits on the phosphorus and nitrogen levels that can be discharged to the Rogue River, but- because the facility cannot meet these new standards, the City of Medford embarked on an upgrade project with an estimated cost of $302 million.

The upgrades must be completed by September 1, 2028, and the facility must meet all new permit conditions by September 1, 2030.

The water upgrade project will be funded by issuing sewer revenue bonds and a $148 million low-interest loan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

In the Sewer Revenue Bond Construction Fund’s 2023-25 biennium budget, $19,415,000 was allocated for design, engineering, and permitting, with a further $115,952,200 included in the proposed 2025-27 biennium budget for final design, project management, and the start of construction.

The following sewer treatment monthly rate increases for single-family residents in the entire service area were implemented to support the upgrades:

A final plant design must be submitted to the DEQ by September 1 next year.