Mercury Minimization Plan to See Implementation in 2025

Following a requirement from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the MWMC regional pretreatment team spent several months in 2024 developing a Mercury Minimization Plan. The DEQ has reviewed the plan and offered positive initial feedback, and the plan is now being prepared for a public comment period. After that feedback is received, the plan will be finalized and implemented.

Regional pretreatment staff have worked for years to prevent heavy metals from entering our wastewater, and that work has led to minimal-to-undetectable levels of mercury in our community's industrial waste streams. Over the next year, the pretreatment team will expand education and outreach on mercury pollution to help minimize mercury from people's homes and other businesses.

Water Resources Presentation at Eugene City Club

The MWMC was honored to present with the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) to the Eugene City Club earlier this month on the future of Eugene's water resources. MWMC Deputy Director Todd Miller talked to the group about the MWMC's recycled water project, which secured $4 million in federal funding last year.

The MWMC will use that funding to upgrade our recycled water treatment capabilities, allowing us to produce Class A recycled water. Class A recycled water has diverse community applications, from landscaping to firefighting to brewing beer. Creating an additional water resource for our community will help our region become more resilient to drought, while also creating benefits for the Willamette River and its ecosystem.

Pollution Solutions

Wipes make their way into the wastewater system frequently, and they can cause expensive problems for homeowners and wastewater utilities alike. Wipes don't break down in water the way that toilet paper does, so they can easily get caught and cause clogs. When they build up in the wastewater system, they can create severe issues that can break pumps and lead to sewage backups for a whole neighborhood. That's why it's important to always put wipes where they belong: in the trash!