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City of Medford Oregon / Public Works / FAQs / Regional Water Reclamation Facility

FAQs - Public Works
Regional Water Reclamation Facility
Q: Who owns the RWRF?

A: The City of Medford purchased the original Camp White plant in 1948 from the Federal Government. By 1956 Medford was treating wastewater from Central Point, Phoenix, and Bear Creek Valley Sanitary District (BCVSA). In 1969 a twenty year agreement was signed which gave Medford the responsibility to bond and construct a new facility on the existing site, to be paid for by monthly user fees. Subsequent expansions have been paid for through System Development Charges since 1980.


For more information, contact  or call (541) 774-2100.

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Q: Who is served by the RWRF

A: The RWRF is a regional facility that currently serves the cities of Central Point, Eagle Point, Jacksonville, Medford, Phoenix, Talent, White City, and the areas served by BCVSA.


For more information, contact  or call (541) 774-2100.

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Q: Who is the person in charge of the RWRF?

A: The Plant Superintendent is Dennis Baker. The Administrator at City Hall is Jim Hill.


For more information, contact  or call (541) 774-2100.

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Q: Can the public visit the RWRF?

A: Yes, contact Mike Osterman to arrange a tour at (541) 774-2750.


For more information, contact  or call (541) 774-2100.

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Q: Who do I contact regarding visits to demonstrate my product?

A: Please provide us with your brochures, business cards, etc., and a facility supervisor(s) will call you to discuss your product (service) if they are interested. Visitation is by appointment only between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with the exception of Holidays.


For more information, contact  or call (541) 774-2100.

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Q: How do I get to the Medford RWRF?

A: We are located off of Table Rock Road on Kirtland Road near the intersection of Antelope and Kirtland, (1100 Kirtland Road).


For more information, contact  or call 541) 774-2100.

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Q: Does the RWRF have an approved pretreatment program?

A: Yes, the Industrial Waste Pretreatment Program was originally approved by Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality on July 7, 1983.


For more information, contact (541) 774-2100.

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Q: How many significant industrial users discharge to the RWRF?

A: Twenty, seven of which are categorical industrial users that have specific federal requirements.


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Q: Does the RWRF have an approved biosolids management program?

A: Yes, the plants Biosolids Management Plan was approved by the Department of Environmental Quality in 1988. The biosolids program is conducted in accordance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) waste discharge permit, 40CFR Part 503 (Code of Federal Regulations), and OAR Chapter 340 Division 50 (Oregon Administrative Rules) regulations and requirements.


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Q: How does the treatment plant dispose of its biosolids?

A: The biosolids are beneficially used. They are applied to local farmland at crop nutrient requirement levels. Some is beneficially used as cover and fill material at the local landfill.


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Q: Where can I take my used motor oil and anti-freeze for disposal?

A: The Rogue Disposal transfer station (779-4161) and Matt Garris Waste Oil Recovery, Inc. (830-1100) are both good sources to dispose of waste oil to be recycled. Matt Garris also takes anti-freeze. Rogue Disposal suggests you call their phone number for their annual hazardous waste disposal event dates if you prefer to use Rogue Disposal for anti-freeze disposal. Since ethylene glycol anti-freeze is a poison, if everyone disposed of antifreeze down the drain, contamination of the environment could result. There may be additional recyclers listed in the phone book to handle these hazardous wastes in an environment-friendly manner.


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Q: Where can I dump my RV holding tank wastes?

A: Campgrounds, RV Parks, and some gas stations. We do not take it at our facility.


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Q: How many gallons of wastewater does the RWRF treat in a day?

A: The average daily influent flow for 2005 was 18 million gallons per day.


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Q: Where does the treated water go?

A: Currently the treated water flows into the Rogue River, with a small amount reused for RWRF landscape irrigation and a pilot agricultural reuse project to grow Poplar trees and fiber plants such as Kenaf grass and Mescanthus for pulp and lumber.



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Q: How many employees work at this facility, and what do they do?

A: The RWRF has a staff of twenty-three, including the WRD Administrator at Medford City Hall. The staff operates and maintains process equipment, performs lab analyses, monitors industries, oversees long range regional planning, and manages and inspects design and construction projects for the facility. User rates are among the lowest in Oregon, and the entire U.S.


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Q: What are the most unusual items removed from the wastewater?

A: The bar screens have removed glass eyeballs, false teeth, and money (thanks, but tipping is not required).


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