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Completed in 2024
Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) owns and operates the Fischer's Forest Park large onsite septic system (LOSS). The LOSS serves a community consisting of 26 homes on three cul-de-sac streets.
Blue lines: existing facilities
Green lines: new facilities
Red X's: facilities to be decomissions
The original LOSS was installed in the early 1970s, and like any system that is 50 years old, even with routine maintenance, performance deteriorated over time. In 2019, WES hired consultants to complete an evaluation of the collection system (manholes, pipes, septic tanks, recirculation tanks, filtration units, etc.) and the drain fields.
The evaluations identified many deficiencies in the system:
- Some of the pipes had developed sags, and there were areas where pipe connections have separated.
- Several of the concrete structures had cracks that let groundwater into the system, which can cause the system to exceed its treatment capacity.
- Some locations where pipes enter the concrete structures had degraded, allowing groundwater into the system and can cause the system to exceed its treatment capacity.
- Some of the concrete structures and cast iron pipes showed signs of corrosion that could have led to structural failures if left unattended.
- Damage caused by tree roots had left the central drain field severely damaged, and repairing the system in its current location was not realistic option.
- Evidence indicated the east and west drain fields needed to be rehabilitated or replaced.
- The system's operation and distribution controls needed to be modernized to improve the performance and life expectancy of the facility.
Project Accomplishments
- Replaced the entire gravity collection system, including manholes, mainlines, and residential service connections.
- Replaced septic tanks.
- Made improvements to and moved the treatment system to an area north of Merry Meadow Court.
- Created a new drain field
- Decommissioned the old treatment area.
- Fencing: A permanent fence has been added to the project. The new fence has several gates so residents have full access to the field.
- WES has taken over the maintenance of the area inside the fence.
