As described in the City's Collection System Master Plan, the Southeast Interceptor will "intercept" wastewater flow that is currently routed through the City's downtown core system, and route it around the south and east side of the City to a connection with the existing Plant Interceptor pipeline in Northeast Bend.  In addition, the City is constructing trunk sewers in Country Club Drive, and Brosterhous Road (both north and sound of Murphy Road) that connect to the interceptor and will allow gravity sewer service to existing neighborhoods that are currently served by City collection system pump stations.  The City has coordinated with all franchise utilities to minimize overall impacts to existing buried utilities and to allow Roats Water to make improvements to their existing system.

Also included in this construction contract is a water line project funded by the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, or "stimulus" funds).  This water project construction has been coordinated with the sewer project construction to minimize traffic disruptions and streamline construction and repaving. 

Finally, the City is planning future roadway and traffic improvements to the Murphy Road Corridor within the project area.  The design of utilities and the new road surface and subgrade have been designed to accommodate the future roadway improvements. As discussed at public meetings during the design phase, these roadway improvements (between Parrell and 15th Street) are unlikely to be constructed until 2020 or beyond depending on City prioritization and available funding.

Southeast Interceptor Murphy Road Segment Pipeline Alignment

This segment will be constructed from Parrell Road to Brosterhous Road and will require deep excavations to allow existing pump stations to be taken off-line and to provide future ability to provide sewer service to existing and future development north and south of Murphy Road. Within this segment the pipe diameter ranges from 18-inches to 24-inches and is designed to be installed at depths of 9 to 23 feet below the existing roadway. Trunk sewer line extensions will be extended within Parrell Road, Tapadera, Benham, Broadmoor, Country Club Drive, and Brown Trout Place.

Improvements to Existing Pump Stations will be made on an interim basis to make the system work with the new gravity sewer.

The Southeast Interceptor solves immediate sewer service problems in the area by disconnecting two of the City's existing sewer pump stations (and many private home sumps) from a small 6-inch forcemain (pressurized sewer pipe) and routes these flows by gravity to a single large existing pump station. This will immediately reduce the City's operation and maintenance costs associated with the pump stations (by reducing equipment wear and long pump run times when pumps "compete" with each other to pump flow down the forcemain) and reduce property owner risk associated with failure of home sump components such as check valves.

Click here to view slides from the October 2009 public presentation about the project.

Southeast Bend Sewer Collection System Planning Overview

As Bend continues to grow, many of the changes brought about by this growth can be seen every day. However one result that goes mostly unseen is wastewater collection and treatment-and improvements required to the City's existing infrastructure to keep up with increased demand for wastewater services.  These improvements include expansion of the complex network of underground infrastructure and above ground facilities that move wastewater throughout the City for safe and efficient treatment.

In order to meet current and future wastewater needs of the City of Bend, the City is constantly assessing existing and projected demands on this system, and developing long-range plans to ensure its capacity meets this demand.

One of the City's top priorities is in southeast Bend, where the load on existing wastewater infrastructure is at its current capacity.  To that end, the City has looked at several options and has selected an approach to increase its ability to convey wastewater generated in Bend's southeast quadrant.

Recommended Alternative for Southeast Interceptor

The recommended alternative is included in the April 2008 Final Recommended Alternative Report (1.5 MB PDF). The alternative includes several segments, described below:

• Southeast Interceptor - Murphy Road Segment is described in the Southeast Interceptor Murphy Road Segment Pipeline Alignment section above.

• Southeast Interceptor - Gravity line between Brosterhous and Reed Market Road. The selected route for the Southeast Interceptor from the intersection at Murphy Road and Brosterhous Road to the intersection at SE 27th Street and Reed Market Road is shown in April 2008 Final Recommended Alternative Report. The majority of this segment is proposed to be located in public right of way, although several private easements are being obtained for select locations.

The Southeast Interceptor is 24-inches in diameter in this segment and will be installed at depths from 3 to 21 feet below existing grade.

The proposed railroad overpass contemplated in the City's Murphy Road Corridor study is being coordinated with the final design of the sewer alignment in this area.

For frequently asked questions and for information on connection of unsewered properties to the City's collection system, please click here.

• Southeast Bend Infrastructure Meeting - August 26, 2010
This presentation was made to provide an update on the status of design and construction of the Southeast Interceptor.  The presentation also discussed how residents could form Local Improvement Districts to construct sewers to serve areas in Southeast Bend - Presentation.pdf

• Southeast Interceptor - Gravity line down SE 27th Street. The selected route for the Southeast Interceptor from the intersection of SE 27th Street and Reed Market Road to the downstream terminus at the Plant Interceptor is shown in April 2008 Final Recommended Alternative Report. This entire segment is proposed to be located in public right of way (except for irrigation district canal crossings). The vertical alignment of this pipeline segment has been established during the Conceptual Design phase. The horizontal location of is being refined during the final design.

The Southeast Interceptor is 24-inches in diameter in this segment and will be installed at depths from 10 to 20 feet below existing grade.

Most of the existing properties in this vicinity are already served by the City's collection system. This project will intercept some flows from east of 27th Street and route them around the City's downtown core sewer system that is at capacity.

As this segment of the interceptor design advances, the City will advertise and hold public involvement meetings to describe the proposed project and construction phase impacts.