Sammamish Valley Grange hosts open house March 19 on Brightwater reclaimed water program

2005 Archived News

The Sammamish Valley Grange has invited King County staff to an informational open house Saturday, March 19, to describe proposals for producing reclaimed water at the future Brightwater wastewater treatment plant. The plant will serve north King County and south Snohomish County after it comes online in 2010.

A drought-proof source of water for landscape and agricultural irrigation and other uses, reclaimed water is wastewater that's treated to such a high level it can be used safely and effectively for nondrinking purposes. Reclaimed water is available year-round, even during dry summer months or when a drought strains other water resources.

The open house is scheduled from 9-11 a.m. at the Grange Hall, 14654 148th Ave. N.E., Woodinville.

During the meeting, county staff will explain the benefits of reclaimed water and discuss the possibilities for providing reclaimed water from the Brightwater plant north of Woodinville. County staff will also describe the range of water-related needs in the Sammamish Valley and how irrigators can calculate reclaimed water needs.

King County has been safely using reclaimed water since 1997 at its regional wastewater treatment plants in Seattle and Renton. Reclaimed water must be treated beyond secondary treatment to meet strict Class A standards of the state departments of Health and Ecology.

The county's Wastewater Treatment Division serves 18 cities, 16 local sewer agencies and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. The regional wastewater-treatment utility formerly known as Metro has been preventing water pollution for 40 years.