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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, August 30, 2006
DEQ seeks public comments on plans
to revise mining water quality permits
A water-quality permit
regulating discharges from
small-scale, precious metals
mining operations that re-
lease wastewater to holding
ponds or the ground surface
is being renewed and revised
by Oregon Dept. of Environ-
mental Quality (DEQ).
This permit affects more
than 400 small-scale mining
operations throughout Ore-
gon and is officially known
as the Water Pollution Con-
trol Facility (WPCF) General
Permit 600.
DEQ is accepting writ-
ten public comment on the
proposed permit revision
through 5 p.m. Friday, Sept.
22. The proposal is available
for public review on DEQ’s
Website at: http://
deq.state.or.us/wq/
wqpermit/permitdocs.htm.
DEQ also will hold four
public hearings throughout
the state to explain the pro-
posed permit renewal and
take oral and written com-
ment.
DEQ will begin each
hearing with a brief descrip-
tion of the proposal, will
JACK L. LOEWEN
Hard water woes down the drain
EcoWater treatment offers cleaner, softer, tastier water
For the past 18 years,
people wanting to find Jack
L. Loewen have found him
under “water.”
Actually -- under “water
treatment systems, and water
softeners” -- to make possi-
ble cleaner, softer water for
homes and businesses.
Loewen, with nearly
two decades of such experi-
ence, has opened an office of
EcoWater Systems in
Downtown Cave Junction,
next to Oregon Mt. Real
Estate. As general manager
for Illinois Valley, Grants
Pass and surrounding areas,
he is an independent con-
tractor for EcoWater Sys-
tems out of Medford.
His office telephone
number is 592-6061. His
cell phone number is 415-
0439; and the toll-free num-
ber is (866) 772-2113.
Besides providing water
softeners and treatment sys-
tems, the business can pro-
vide bottled water in five-
gallon plastic containers for
residential and commercial
use. Coolers are available
too, and they’re cleaned
with each delivery.
The water is purified, he
said, by reverse osmosis,
UV light and then ozone “to
ensure the purest water pos-
sible.”
He added, “It’s great for
drinking and cooking.”
Loewen offers free in-
home water analysis, noting
that, “The water here, out-
side the city, is terrible; the
worst I’ve seen in my 18
years in the business.
“It contains a lot of so-
dium, bacterial iron, nitrates,
arsenic and regular iron.”
He added that with the
analysis he can provide solu-
tions, and then provide
“exceptional customer ser-
vice.” He’s been quite busy ,
often working for weeks
without a day off because of
the need for what EcoWater
Systems provides.
Loewen explained that
for the water softeners and
treatment systems available
through EcoWater, he is
able to offer a package
“with no money down and
no interest for a year with an
approved credit rating.”
With the equipment
provided by EcoWater, ad-
vantages include “the clean-
est, healthiest water avail-
able. It’s odor-free, and is
‘soft’ on pipes, appliances,
sinks and countertops. It’s
terrific for bathing and
washing clothes.”
Loewen noted further
advantages such as less soap
residue in showers, tubs and
sinks, making them easier to
clean. And up to 75 percent
can be saved on cleaning
products because of better
water, he said.
A major benefit he cited
is that with water softeners
and treated water, the effi-
ciency of water heaters in-
creases by some 29 percent.
This is because bad residue
from untreated water col-
lects in the bottom of water
heaters, and users are paying
for electricity to heat that
before the water, he ex-
plained.
“The state-of-the-art
equipment pays for itself,”
he said, through reductions
in the use of energy, water,
soap and detergents. Also,
“skin feels smoother, and
the quality of ice can be im-
proved.”
Plus, as with water sof-
teners, up to 60 percent less
salt can be used because of
better water quality.
EcoWater’s computerized
water softeners monitor the
demand for water and salt.
Loewen said that all of
EcoWater’s equipment is
made in the company’s
Minnesota plant, and that
it’s all patented.
EcoWater Systems is
the world’s largest manufac-
turer of residential water
treatment systems. The
company has been in busi-
ness since 1925, and has
operations in the United
States, Canada, Belgium,
United Kingdom, and Asia.
There are manufacturing
facilities in St. Paul, Minn.
and Ripley, Miss., where
more than 500 employees
produce a variety of water
treatment systems ranging
from small drinking water
systems for home use to
industrial-sized systems.
EcoWater Systems Inc.
began when Lynn G. Lind-
say received his first patent
on a valve for the automatic
control of water condition-
ers. “Today, EcoWater
stands alone as the leader
and innovator of products
for the treatment of water,”
the company said.
“Solving water problems
and improving the quality of
water is what we’re about,”
Loewen said, “and we’re
available right here.”
were released to the custody
of immigration officials.
The recent incident oc-
curred when Trooper Scott
Hite stopped southbound on
I-5 near milepost 223 to
offer assistance to an occu-
pied, disabled 2000 Chevro-
let Malibu with California
license plates. Hite con-
tacted the two occupants
and obtained consent to
search the car.
A deputy and his nar-
cotics police dog from Linn
County Sheriff’s Office
stopped to assist, and the
canine alerted on the car. A
closer search by Hite dis-
Oregon tightens rule on some substances
Pseudoephedrine,
ephedrine and phenylpropa-
nolamine are now listed by
the State Board of Pharmacy
as Schedule III controlled
substances.
The Board of Pharmacy
adopted Oregon Administra-
tive Rules (OAR) imple-
menting the listings, effec-
tive July 1, 2006, at the di-
rection of the 2005 Legisla-
ture.
What does the new law
mean for Oregon’s physi-
cians?
Prescriptions are now
required for pharmacies to
dispense products containing
any amount of ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine in, or into,
Oregon. Schedule III con-
trolled substances may be
prescribed in writing, by
telephone or fax; and may be
refilled up to five times or
for a period of up to six
months, whichever comes
first.
covered approximately
$46,590 cash in a hidden
compartment inside the car.
OSP Drug Enforcement
Section detectives believe
that the cash is associated
with drug-related activity
and are continuing the in-
vestigation.
H.D. PATTON JR
C O
N
S T
541
R U
•
C
T
476-2127
I O
N
Lic #39671
Phenylpropanolamine
(PPA) has been withdrawn
from the market.
Many pseudoephedrine
products -- cold remedies,
decongestants and the like --
have been reformulated for
nonprescription sale. Such
products now contain the
d e c o n g e s t a n t
phenylepherine. The newly
formulated decongestants
are available over the
counter, and cold and al-
lergy sufferers can still find
these products on store
shelves.
Physicians with ques-
tions regarding prescribing
or product formulations
should contact patients’
pharmacies for details.
Jack R. Loewen
Problem Water Specialist
5 4 1 -5 9 2 -6 0 6 1
5 4 1 -4 1 5 -0 4 3 9
Ecowater@frontiernet.net
www.ecowater.com
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Bottled Water De liv ery
Household Well Water Treatment
Commercial Wa ter Treatment
Deionization
Wa te r Sof te ner Sa lt Delive ry
R enta l, Sa les , Fi na nc ing
Serving Illinois Valley, Grants Pass, & Surrounding Areas
David Anderson Excavating CCB#159580 597-4486
School Supplies at
the Festival
Full of Trees
Outstanding New Subdivision
in Cave Junction
‘1856 - 2006’
Josephine County is celebrating
its 150th anniversary.
The county board of commissioners invites
the submission of stories, memories and arti-
cles for posting on the Internet on a special
site. Send articles via email to:
bcc@co.josephine.or.us
or mail them to the commissioners at
500 N.W. Sixth St., Grants Pass OR 97526
the permit to other state and
federal regulatory agencies
that may have additional
requirements.
The permit revisions do
not change the type of op-
eration that must register
under the permit. Also, per-
mittees who register under
the 600 WPCF permit are
not required to obtain other
DEQ permits.
Persons interested in the
600 WPCF permit can sub-
mit written comments by
mail, fax or e-mail before
the Sept. 22 deadline. Com-
ments may be mailed to
Scott Manzano, Oregon
Dept. of Environmental
Quality, Water Quality Di-
vision, 811 S.W. Sixth Ave.,
Portland OR 97204.
Comments may be
faxed to him at (503) 229-
5408; or e-mailed to
manzano.scott@deq.state.
or.us.
DEQ said that it will
carefully review all com-
ments and may modify the
permit. It’s anticipated that
the final permit will go into
effect Nov. 1, 2006.
FRIENDLY POKER GAMES, just for fun and chips, are held at Illinois Valley Senior
Center on second and fourth Fridays. Games are played from 6 to 10 p.m., with sev-
eral different types of poker used. And there’s plenty of decaf. For more information,
phone 592-6888. (Photo by ‘Illinois Valley News’)
Trooper finds $46,000 from I-5 traffic stop
More than $46,000 cash
in a hidden compartment
was discovered by an Ore-
gon State Police trooper
checking a disabled car on
Interstate 5 near Albany.
Two men from North
Portland were taken into
custody, and investigation is
continuing. Suspects are
identified as Adonias Sagas-
tume-Pineda, 30; and Carlos
Navarette-Cuellar, 37.
They were lodged in
Linn County Jail on charges
of first-degree possession of
a forged instrument, and
money laundering. Accord-
ing to Linn County, both
take questions from the pub-
lic, and then accept public
testimony.
One will be held in
Grants Pass on Wednesday,
Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. in Anne
G. Basker Auditorium, 604
N.W. Sixth St.
The 600 WPCF permit
applies to mining operations
that use nonchemical ore or
placer processing methods
and dispose of wastewater
by evaporation and seepage.
The permit prohibits dis-
charge water from entering
or affecting any surface wa-
ter in Oregon, said DEQ.
In-water, suction dredge
mining is not covered by the
600 WPCF permit, but is
instead covered by the 700-
PM National Pollutant Dis-
charge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit.
DEQ is proposing mi-
nor changes to the 600
WPCF permit, to include:
*Clarifying best man-
agement practices that per-
mittees can use to ensure
that discharges are properly
managed and contained.
*Updating references in
579 W. River
$230,000
579 W. River - House Pad Ready
2016 Sf. Detached Residential
Accessory Bldg/Shop. RV Space
on 14,910 Sf. Lot (double size lot)
R EACH - U p , S TAND - UP , F LY - UP !
David Anderson Excavating will be
offering FREE school supplies to
students who attend the I.V. Lions
Labor Day Festival at Jubilee Park.
Supplies will be distributed to those
who “earn” them by participating in a
free game or by demonstrating a
“talent”.
Also, special “surprises” will be offered
during the three day festival.
We look forward to seeing you there!