On December 3, 2009 an update and preliminary position paper on a possible program to regulate septic tanks tributary to Devils Lake was sent to the Lincoln City Mayor’s office and each of the City Council members from David Hawker Manager of Lincoln City. The document’s stated goal is to “Examine means to reduce pollution in Devils Lake from faulty septic systems.”
The City’s primary means to accomplish this goal is Section 13.12.050 (B2) of the Lincoln City Municipal Code. More specifically
“The city may reduce the quantity of water supplied by the service or entirely discontinue the service at any time, on a temporary or permanent basis, and by area or areas or by customer or classes of customers, in accord with such policies as the city may establish from time to time by ordinance or resolution adopted by the city council.”

Map of Septic Systems on Devils Lake
The document describes the reasons for this action. Devils Lake Water Improvement District provided the information justifying the creation of a Septic Revitalization Program. The District references the 1998 placement of Devils Lake on the EPA 303(d) list where we enjoy plenty of company as it took 288 pages to list impaired water bodies in Oregon alone. Also referenced is a 29-year-old study identifying septic tanks as contributing 25% of the nitrogen and up to 14% of the phosphorus in the lake. The referenced study was amended in 1982 because “upon examination of the water quality data collected, it was concluded that additional water sampling was necessary to fill in data missing during the high recreational summer and autumn use periods”. This second study performed by the DEQ suggests that excessive Fecal Coliform measurements attributed to septic systems were limited to samples taken near Thompson Creek.
The City Manager believes there is sufficient scientific and anecdotal information that septic systems are part of the problem. He feels the City has a responsibility to act. Continue reading →
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Filed under City, DLWID, Septic