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HASSO HERING

A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley

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Talking Water Gardens: Was there no need?

Written July 30th, 2025 by Hasso Hering
Comments: 20 responses.

Sixteen years ago, the Albany City Council decided to build the wetlands known as Talking Water Gardens because members thought the city had to do something to cool treated wastewater in order to meet state rules. Now a lawyer for the city says no, the rules did not require it.

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Council approves settlement of ‘Cannibal’ suit

Written August 23rd, 2021 by Hasso Hering
Comments: 4 responses.

The Albany City Council Monday voted quickly and unanimously to approve a settlement of a lawsuit the city filed four years ago over the failure of a system at the city’s new sewage treatment plant.

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Wastewater woes: Millions at stake

Written December 1st, 2017 by Hasso Hering
Comments: 7 responses.

Albany and Millersburg completed their new wastewater treatment plant on the Willamette River in 2009 at a cost of around $70 million borrowed from the state. Three years later, for about $14 million, they finished the Talking Water Gardens. Neither project has worked entirely as planned, and now the cities may go to court over […]

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Still struggling with stinky sludge

Written June 13th, 2014 by Hasso Hering
Comments: one response.

Albany just can’t seem to catch a break with the problem of solid waste at the joint Albany-Millersburg sewage treatment plant. As the weather warmed this spring, on bike rides past the plant and downwind from it, I once again noticed the outhouse odor that caused neighbors to petition the Albany City Council for a solution […]

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HH Today: A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley
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