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10/30/2019 Member News

HBA Works With WES as They Consider Tiered Sewer SDCs


Last week HBA engaged with the Water Environment Services (WES) Advisory Committee on potential changes to the residential sewer system development charge (SDC) methodology. In their report, WES staff describe various approaches for re-assigning residential equivalent dwelling units (EDUs) and the resulting proposed adjustments to SDCs, by dwelling size, scaled according to square footage. Staff's review of dwelling size, occupancy, and indoor winter water consumption data found a statistically significant correlation between home square footage and household size. Given that population is a key driver of both indoor water use and wastewater demand, this correlation suggests that dwelling size can be used to estimate both the amount of water consumption likely to occur within a dwelling over its useful life, as well as the home’s lifetime wastewater impact. Since SDCs are a function of WES’ sewer capital improvement plan projections for estimated growth, HBA called for an ongoing analysis to include a parcel-by-parcel review of the buildable lands inventory for both rural and urban unincorporated areas in Clackamas County.

WES is seeking additional stakeholder participation in the Advisory Committee and we encourage you to apply by November 12, 2019 for the open business owner or manager and ratepayer from unincorporated Clackamas County seats. To weigh in on the proposed WES residential sewer SDC adjustments, and to learn about HBA’s role on the WES Advisory Committee, contact Roseann Johnson at roseannj@hbapdx.org.


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