Tribal Council Chairman Ryan Garfield, center, speaks during the ground breaking ceremony for a $8.1 million wastewater treatment plant project at the Tule River Indian Reservation.  
 
US Enviornmental Protection Agency's Regional Administartor Jared Blumenfeld, center, speaks during a groud breaking ceremony on the $8.1 million wastewater treatment plant project at the Tule River Indian Reservation. 

With the traditional blessing and ceremonial turning of the first shovel of dirt, officials with the Tule River Indian Tribe were joined by local federal, state, city and county officials to break ground on the $8.1 million wastewater treatment plant.

The significant project will for the first time provide modern sewer services to most of the homes on the reservation that today are all served by septic tanks.
“This is a really big project for the reservation,” said Tribal Council Chairman Ryan Garfield with the backdrop of rolling green hills on the western edge of the home to more than 850 people. “We’ve been trying to do this for years. It is going to open up more housing and it is a good way to keep our rivers clean, not just for the tribe, but downstream neighbors as well.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency joined the Indian Health Service for the largest funded stimulus Tribal wastewater infrastructure project nationwide. EPA is contributing $6.3 million to the project through the Clean Water Indian Set Aside program and the Indian Health Service is providing an additional $1.8 million.

“We believe strongly in clean drinking water,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest who noted that 30 percent of the septic systems had failed and 30 percent more will fail soon.

“We are at a crisis point,” he said.

Construction on the 6.9 miles of pipeline will begin Feb. 28, said Donald Brafford, director of sanitation construction with Indian Health Services. Construction of the plant will begin in May or June.

Upon completion in late 2012, the new system will serve 268 homes, provide 6.9 miles of collection system pipeline and establish 371 residential connections. The project will also provide for a wastewater treatment facility that will treat an average daily flow of 100,000 gallons per day, one million gallons in effluent storage pond capacity, and a 7.5 acre leachfield for effluent disposal.

Brafford noted it has been the goal of the tribe to improve the handling of sewage for 50 years.

“What got us over the hump was RARA (Recovery Act) funding,” he said.

The significance of the project was evident by comments of many members of the tribal council and others.

“This project is for our people. It’s a big move. I thank you very much,” said council member Kevin Bonds.

“This is a very historic day for the Tule River community,” added Willie Carrillo.
Blumenfeld promised the project would be completed on time and on budget.
“This will be here in 50 years serving the community,’ he said.

The Tule River Reservation was established in 1873 and currently owns over 55,000 acres.

The Tribe has a current population of 1,623 members, with 876 living on the Reservation in 285 homes.