Land deal puts Post Falls close to irrigation target
Photo courtesy of city of Post Falls Post Falls has purchased 373 acres south of the Spokane River for a future land application site and parkland. The City Council on Tuesday night approved a 128-acre deal for $1.2 million. This unidentified woman walking her dog is on the 245 acres adjacent to that property the city bought last year.
Map courtesy of city of Post Falls This map shows where the 128-acre property Post Falls purchased for future land application and parkland is compared to a 245-acre piece it bought for such purposes last year as well as the city’s parks. The May property approved by the City Council on Tuesday night is in the lower center of the photo. It is between the Spokane River and West Riverview Drive.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — Post Falls has taken a 128-acre step toward securing enough land for its future land application needs.
The City Council has approved the purchase of 128 vacant acres adjacent to the southern border of Q'emiln Park for $1.2 million from the May family.
The site will be used to apply treated wastewater necessary to meet the mandate of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the Spokane River, as well as for future parkland with climbing and other recreation opportunities.
The purchase comes after the city purchased 245 acres next to the site last year for $6.5 million for the same purposes. The city recently opened that property to the public.
"We're fortunate that these large-acreage parcels were vacant and available," said Russ Connole, city public services director, adding they are less than a half mile from the wastewater treatment plant.
Connole estimates the city will start land applying treated wastewater from April to October beginning in 2024.
"It's disinfected, highly treated and will not affect the public," he said.
The system will have a buried main line and above-ground drip lines that irrigate the land in 2- to 3-acre sections. Schweitzer Mountain uses a similar system.
"Once the grass grows up around the pipes, you won't be able to see them," Connole said.
Connole estimates the purchases south of the river near the plant will save the city $5 million because it will allow the land application program to be implemented in phases as opposed to having to pump the effluent 6 miles to the Rathdrum Prairie right away.
He said more effluent can also be discharged south of the river because most of the sites aren't above the aquifer, the region's drinking water source, whereas the prairie properties are.
Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene and the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board currently discharge treated wastewater into the river.
In total, Post Falls has purchased 990 acres for future land application purposes, including 618 it owns on the Rathdrum Prairie off Hayden Avenue. The city began purchasing sites in 2005.
Connole said the purchase of the May site puts the city within 70 acres of what’s needed to fulfill its requirement for its discharge permit issued by the EPA.
Rathdrum owns an additional 314 acres on the Rathdrum Prairie for future land application. Post Falls treats Rathdrum's wastewater.
The cost for Post Falls and other dischargers to clean up the river is eye-popping. It has translated into rising sewer rates for residents, culminating in a 7 percent hike for the upcoming year in Post Falls and a $49.64 monthly bill.
The city spent about $12 million in recent upgrades to its treatment plant and another $19.2 million is planned. In addition, the city estimates it will have spent more than $27 million in land application costs, including for land, engineering and design, construction and permitting.
The May property was purchased with $635,000 in wastewater user fees and $565,000 in parks impact fees.
The need to meet federal cleanup mandates also comes amid Post Falls' growth spurt. If the city continues to grow at its current pace, it is projected to grow to 65,000 by 2032 and 90,000 by 2040.
"Whether that comes true or not, time will tell," Connole said. "But those are the numbers we are planning for."