Amador County – Ione is preparing for effects on its wastewater system, but the good news last week was that Ione is sitting on a good sized reserve. City Manager Kim Kerr gave a report last week to the Amador Regional Planning Committee of the state of wastewater treatment in Ione. Kerr said the city has $5 million dollars in developer fees in the bank, and they have “made it a point not to use that money.” Those funds are from Wildflower and JTS Properties developments fees. Kerr thinks Ione has more options for its wastewater systems, than Jackson (due to its location) or Sutter Creek. Kerr said Ione’s 2 plants have a treatment capacity of 1.6 million gallons a day. But they do not charge the Amador Water Agency the full rate they could. Ione also paid $20,000 dollars in ARSA system work. Ione faces potential changes in wastewater flow in the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority system, from Sutter Creek and the Amador Water Agency. That water is treated and sent to irrigate Castle Oaks Golf Course, and Mule Creek State Prison. She said the agreement between Ione, Mule Creek and ARSA requires a 5-year notification for change in wastewater flows. Ione City Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said “there has to be a plan in place and notice has to be given.” Kerr said Ione will have to build its plant with the inclusion of capacity commitments to ARSA. She said “before (they) take ARSA out, Ione would have to have the plan in place to place the water on the (Castle Oaks) Golf Course.” Kerr said Ione doesn’t want to accept raw water, and Sutter Creek needs a secondary plant. She said a wastewater pipeline would be 9 miles to Ione. Kerr said Ione cannot send secondary water from its city plant to its tertiary plant. But ARSA can and does send secondary water there – about 1/3rd of the plant’s capacity. Councilman Tim Murphy said it made him think about some things Sutter Creek was talking about doing, and AWA’s recycled water system. Murphy said maybe later on they can talk about regional approaches. Kerr said she believes Ione will always treat wastewater, being at the bottom of the hill. They will try to run it more efficiently, and see if they can get approval to put tertiary water in toilets, to free up storage space. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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