PRINEVILLE, OR -- Prineville breaks ground this week on the city’s new, unique wastewater treatment facility. A new treatment plant would’ve cost the city about $57 million. Instead, Assistant City Engineer Mike Kasberger says they opted to create 120-acres of ponds and lagoons to treat the water. "That will naturally take this water and bring us to the future where we can use this wetlands, for a cost to the city of about $4 million." Another $2 million is coming to the project from grants and community partners. 

But, Kasberger tells KBND News, it's not only about wastewater. "It’s a great project, in that it takes care of the city’s future needs for wastewater treatment, and it also has a lot of qualities for the environment. It has habitat for birds and for fish, and it takes care of a lot of erosion issues for the Crooked River." The project also includes five miles of hiking trails and educational kiosks.