Oronoco is on the brink of losing its 'unsewered' status
Sep. 23—Dear All-Knowing Answer Man: The dust has been flying all summer in Oronoco, Rochester's quaint neighbor to the north. I assume this has to do with their sewage treatment plant. When will that be finished? And is the whole city going to be connected at once? — Passing Interested Party.
Dear Passing Interest,
You are correct in assuming the street work being done in Oronoco is related to the new wastewater treatment plant being built just south of town.
For years, Oronoco was known for two things: the large antique event known as Gold Rush Days each August and the fact that Oronoco is the largest unsewered city in Minnesota, an ignominious title that Mayor Ryland Eichhorst is more than happy to pass along to the next largest town without a wastewater treatment plant.
"No, I don't," Eichhorst said when asked if he knew which city would now hold the title. "Maybe that's something I should ask the MPCA."
As for your questions, Passing, here's the lastest on the project. While the city continues to lay down sewer pipe and repave streets — the goal is to have a layer of asphalt down everywhere before the snow falls — the wastewater plant should go online in late November.
That doesn't mean the whole city will be flushing to the communal plant by Thanksgiving. Individual homes must still connect to the installed curb stops within 12 months of receiving a letter stating the wastewater facility is completed. Since that'll happen late in the year, it's likely most individual homes won't connect until next spring or summer. Most of that will be homes located in the downtown area.
Three housing developments that consist of about 220 lots currently utilize a communal drain field — think of that as an oversized septic system. Those neighborhoods — Cedar Woodlands, River Wood Hills, River Park — just need a single connection to the system. Those should be pumping sewage to the new wastewater plant before Christmas. All this, including the Oronoco Estates mobile home park that is just outside the city's boundary, are part of phase 1A, representing about two-thirds of the town.
And the west side of town will be completed in 2030, Eichhorst said.
Individual homeowners will need to pay for those connections from their home to the new sewer system, and will be fined if they don't have it completed within the 12 months from getting notification from the city.
Another project for homeowners will be to get their individual septic tanks pumps and either removed or filled with sand.
All of this might sound like a bit of a hassle, but the benefits for Oronoco go way beyond losing the "unsewered" designation.
As one of the newest wastewater plants in the state, Oronoco's effluent will be among the cleanest in Minnesota, which will contributed to a cleaner Zumbro River and Lake Zumbro. With Eichhorst still pushing for a regional water trail that, in part, runs through the city, that's a big plus.
Even better, larger developments such as apartment buildings and commercial or light industrial businesses can now call Oronoco home. A lack of a sewer system has long stifled economic and multi-family housing development.
Eichhorst said the new wastewater plant is an absolute game-changer for the city.
"People are asking questions," Eichhorst said. "When can we hook up? When can we invest?"
When, he said, is now.
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