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An essential part of rebuilding Paradise is ensuring its stability and growth for years to come. The implementation of a sewer system for the greater downtown area is key to this development. The proposed sewer service area, first envisioned in 1979 with the Town’s incorporation and now finally making significant forward steps, will allow more types and sizes of businesses nesses to open and support the rebuilding economy, providing a long-term solution for wastewater collection, transport, and treatment.
The Sewer Project will encourage a thriving core and downtown area by allowing for more businesses and higher-density residential developments to be built. Doing so benefits the burgeoning population. Without a sewer system, many businesses and buildings are limited in size and scope due to septic system constraints, preventing growth in what could be a vibrant commercial section of town.
Further, it allows for a more sustainable redevelopment of Paradise by allowing us to eliminate septic systems within the development area that have negatively impacted groundwater and instead collect and treat that wastewater according to higher standards.
The Paradise Sewer Project, if approved, could begin pre-construction as early as 2023, with full completion expected in late 2026.
The proposed sewer service area would be primarily in the downtown area and encompassed by Clark Road, Skyway, and Pearson Road.
The most realistic system would use a single pipeline to convey Paradise wastewater down Skyway and across south Chico to the Chico Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP). At the Chico WPCP, Paradise wastewater will blend with Chico wastewater. The combined flow will receive high-level treatment before discharging to the Sacramento River.
The Town of Paradise is the lead agency for the overall project effort as well as the Environmental Impact Report. A Sewer Regionalization Project Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) has been formed which is composed of members from the Councils of the Town of Paradise and the City of Chico. The Advisory Committee is actively developing draft principles of agreement which could lead to a formal contract between the Town of Paradise and City of Chico for the purposes of governing wastewater treatment services provided by the City to the Town. The Advisory Committee also hears regular updates on the Town’s Environmental Impact Report.
Preliminary Environmental studies have been undertaken, and now we are in the process of preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) to outline all potential issues and related mitigations for the construction of the pipeline, pump stations, and pressure lines.
Once the EIR is certified, the process moves on to approvals and permits, then to design, and finally to construction, hopefully starting in the summer of 2024.
An Environmental Impact Report analyzes the potential environmental impacts of constructing and operating a sewer connection from the Town of Paradise to the City of Chico Water Pollution Control Plant.
The EIR is not only required as a discretionary action, but it is valuable to the progression of the Paradise Sewer Project in that it brings stakeholder perspective into the planning process. It allows full consideration of the project’s benefits and environmental impacts while developing mitigation strategies to offset those impacts found to be potentially significant. It will provide the Town with essential information to determine if and how the project moves forward.
Get ready! The Draft Environmental Impact Report will present numerous opportunities for public comment and engagement in the first half of 2022. Throughout this process, however, staff remains available at all times to answer questions or take input on the development of the project.
Visit the FAQ page at paradisesewer.com.
This newsletter is designed to keep you informed of the ongoing recovery efforts as we rebuild Paradise. Each week you will receive a newsletter with events, current numbers (building permits, etc.), current topics and a weekly Q&A.
Occasionally, we may send out an extra newsletter pertaining to an upcoming event or important information.
