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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 2004 MWMC WASTEWATER FACILITIES PLAN AND SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGE METHODOLOGY designated biosolids site or Biocycle Farm will be brought on-line in spring of 2004 and will add to the reliability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness of MWMC's biosolids program. Another follow-on study to the 1997 Master Plan was a comprehensive plan for wet-weather peak flow management. The 2001 Wet Weather Flow Management Plan (WWFMP) also included extensive public participation through a CAC that discussed numerous technical and policy topics at length and utlimately made several recommendations that the Commission adopted. The CAC placed a heavy emphasis on eliminating overflows of untreated wastewater into basements, streets, and the Willamette River. One of the resulting policies was the decision to have the Cities agressively pursue cost-effective I/I reduction. The Cities also adopted the WWFMP, and have been implementing these I/I reduction efforts, including ongoing monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the efforts. The Wet Weather Flow Management Plan also concluded that the "convey and treat" solution was the most cost-effective approach for increasing peak flow capacity. The 2004 Facilities Plan now provides a more detailed plan through 2025 of how to implement the "convey and treat" approach in a manner that meets the MWMC policies and the current regulatory requirements. As stated previously, this 2004 Facilities Plan is a comprehensive assessment of the wastewater collection, treatment and disposal/reuse needs for next 20 years. It has incorporated where appropriate, and updated or supplemented where needed, information and results from the previous planning efforts summarized above. This study will also meet the state's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rigorous requirements for wastewater "Facilities Plans" that will enable MWMC to utilize the State Revolving Loan Fund if that becomes financially favorable over the study period and will enable MWMC to access Federal grant funds that have already been appropriated for its use. MWMC has not developed anything comparable to a DEQ-approved facilities plan since the original 208 Plan that was developed back in 1977. Facilities Plan Question 4. Why does MWMC now have to make a significant capital investment over the next several years? Investment is needed to adddress regulatory requirements. Regulatory drivers include peak wet weather flows, ammonia, thermal load limits, and mass load limits for conventional pollutants. Each is discussed below: · Peak Wet Weather Flows: MWMC currently does not have adequate treatment plant capacity to handle all of the.peak wet weather flows that occur. The Wet Weather Flow Management Plan identified projects needed to meet the conditions contained in the discharge permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Also, on January 1, 2010, DEQ will require MWMC to treat 100 percent of the peak wet weather flow. To date, some of the peak wet weather flow does not receive treatment before entering the Willamette River. As shown in the following table, an additional 102 million gallons per day (mgd) of peak flow treatment capacity is required through 2025. SHAWNS COMMENTS TO FAQ'S ON 4-16-04_1.DOC PAGE 4 OF 13