PORT TOWNSEND — Tri-Area residents and business owners heard Tuesday that they can expect to pay thousands of dollars for a sewer system, but that the estimated cost has come down from a figure quoted them in July.

The cost of installing a system would be between $12,850 and $20,500 per equivalent residential unit over a 20-year period, said consultants working for Jefferson County to develop a plan.

That compares to an estimate of $90,000 per equivalent residential unit consultants quoted in July.

An equivalent residential unit is usage of an average of 4,500 gallons of water per month, which is the average amount of water used monthly by 2.5 people.

It is applied to both residences and businesses.

For instance, a business that used 9,000 gallons of water per month would be counted as two equivalent residential units.

The cost of building the system is in addition to a monthly operations and maintenance expense, which would be about $60 per month.

“It’s inherent with a new system that there’s a cost associated with that,” said Bob Wheeler, consultant with Seattle-based Tetra Tech/KCM, which is working under a $424,100 contract to establish a sewer facility plan.

Wheeler spoke to about 50 people at the workshop in the Jefferson County Courthouse.

“We want to be conservative in the estimate we give you, and it’s not cast in stone.”

The cost estimate came down as the consulting firm explored more data, he said.

It could come down more — or it could go up.

Replace septic tanks

The sewer system would replace septic tanks, which are limiting the growth of some businesses in Port Hadlock and vicinity.

Many who had attended a workshop late in the summer were relieved that Tuesday’s estimate wasn’t as expensive as first stated.

“I do have a concern of low-income folks affording it, but it needs to be done and we need a UGA in Port Hadlock and a sewer is part of that,” said Sandy Hershelman, executive officer of the Jefferson County Home Builders Association.