Going back as far as the 1970s there has been talk of building a sewer for the Port Hadlock area. The designation of Port Hadlock as an Urban Growth Area in 2002 meant that a sewer was required. It has been some time coming to fruition, but a sewer in Port Hadlock is closer than ever to a reality. Its cost has been the major issue.

Several years ago a small group of property owners approached Jefferson County about the delay in building the sewer. Originally the county wanted to build the sewer to serve the commercial areas along Rhody Drive, Nesses Corner Road, Chimacum Road and Irondale Road. In addition they were going to build a gravity collection system and a fixed treatment plant. The cost for that was over $40 million. Getting grant money was the major issue. To reduce initial cost the group proposed to scale back the project. Essentially the proposal was to cut the cost in half by excluding Rhody Drive at the beginning and instead of a gravity system using a pressure collection system and modular treatment units. After a financial review it was determined that this could be done for just over $23 million.

Where Will The Money Come From?

At this point an explanation of how a sewer is funded is in order. A while back Belfair was declared a UGA by Mason County, so they then needed to build a sewer system. Mason County funded the sewer but made some assumptions regarding the number of hook-ups that would happen. The hook-ups expected did not materialize due to the Great Recession. That system had severe funding issues. Recently, Clallam County built a sewer for the Carlsborg UGA. Clallam County was able to use the nearby Sequim treatment plant and only had to build the collection system. Clallam County had sufficient money available in their infrastructure fund to build the collection system. They will be reimbursed the cost through hook-ups to the system.

The reality is that Jefferson County does not have the funds to build a sewer for Port Hadlock outright. The County must obtain grant money and arrange to have only property owners, who benefit, to pay. Therefore, to ensure that the general taxpayers of Jefferson County do not have to pay for the Port Hadlock Sewer, Jefferson County is going to fund the sewer through hook-ups, property assessments, grants and 50% of the PIF money. A Local Improvement District (LID) will be formed to comprise the properties to be sewered. THe LID is primarily a funding mechanism. A LID is used to fund many improvements, such as sidewalks and other road improvements, water systems, sewer systems, and broadband improvements.

PIF stands for Public Infrastructure Funds. In Washington State the State refunds back to certain counties part of the sales tax collected in the county. These funds are dedicated to infrastructure Improvements. Jefferson County has dedicated 50% of that fund toward the Port Hadlock Sewer.

Many people get confused about who will pay for the Port Hadlock Sewer. As stated above, funding will come from grants, affected property owners and PIF money. The property owners in the LID are only the ones that benefit from the sewer. If you are not getting a sewer hook-up you will not be paying for the sewer. This includes properties in the Port Hadlock UGA but outside the boundaries of the LID.

Those properties that get hook-ups will pay for sewer through four different methods. First, to pay for the collection system each property is given a “Special Assessment.” This special assessment is an economic assessment of the increase in value gained by having the sewer vs. not. Jefferson County has determined that each property will pay for 50% of this increase in value. An option is made to pay this off over 20 years rather than all at once. Second, when a property is actually hooked-up to the sewer a hook-up fee is paid that funds the construction of the treatment plant itself. Third, since a pressurized system is going to be used, each property will pay for the tank and pump plus the pressure line to the road; this is called the side sewer. Fourth, each property will pay for the sewer operation through monthly charges based on water usage.

In April of 2020 the State granted $1.42M to Jefferson County to do a final design. The contract was awarded to Tetra Tech, a Seattle based engineering firm.

There has already been some survey work for the sewer final design that some of you may have noticed. Most of the work is done by engineers at a desk. Once the final design is done a much more exacting cost can be determined as to the true cost of the sewer. In addition the side sewer cost will now be known for each property.

At this point it will be determined if the property owners to be sewered wish to proceed. If they do, a LID will be formed. Should at least 40% (by area) of the property owners determine that they do not want a sewer they can petition the county to stop the LID process. If the petition is successful the LID and sewer can be put on hold for a year. After a year the county could then go through the LID process again.

The advantage of forming the LID is that it is a legally effective document. It states who can be assessed for the cost of the sewer. This prohibits the county from taxing all the county residents from being taxed to pay for the sewer under State law.

Why Do We Even Need A Sewer?

Some people ask the question “Why do we need a sewer? We have gotten by just fine without one up to now.” This is a very good question. The need for a sewer hinges on two issues, health and density. Using septic systems is a lower cost method of sewage disposal. The problem is when more density is desired. It then becomes necessary to build a sewer system.

Proper disposal of sewage is an important health issue. Proper sanitation including sewage disposal has eradicated many diseases that were previously common. Cholera, typhoid, dysentery are some of them. Nitrate contamination of drinking water causes “blue baby” syndrome. A clean environment and clean drinking water are two of the most significant hallmarks of a modern society.

A sewer is needed to enable affordable housing to be built. Affordable housing basically is a function of density. The most affordable type of construction is the apartment building. This high density is where the importance of a sewage system comes in. Other high density uses are schools, restaurants and large employers.

No new apartment buildings have been built for some time outside of Port Townsend. That is because we lack a sewer. The same goes for restaurants, grocery stores and large employers.

To improve our economy and housing a sewer system is a requirement. Once the sewer system is built we will be able to have more housing, jobs and a better tax base.

The initial Port Hadlock Sewer System will use property that has already been purchased by Jefferson County. The treatment system will be built south of Nesses Corner Road and north of Lopeman Road. The infiltration ponds will be built just south of Lopeman Road.

Because a pressurized collection system is to be utilized the road work can be minimized. A gravity system would have created a substantial amount of road work. A pressure system will use much smaller lines some of which can be installed by boring under the road rather than digging it up.

Building the sewer will benefit all of Jefferson County due to the increase in jobs and affordable housing and a more viable economy and tax base.