Celebration in Carnation as construction on city's first treatment plant gets under way

Carnation community members today celebrated the start of construction on a new wastewater treatment plant that will replace failing septic systems, protect public health and the environment, and revitalize the economy.

Community members joined Carnation Mayor Bill Paulsen, King County Executive Ron Sims and local dignitaries to break ground on the $30 million Carnation treatment system project. Speakers also included King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert and U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert.

The City of Carnation contracted with King County in 2002 to build a new treatment plant after county and state health department officials declared the city's failing septic systems a serious public health hazard.

King County was selected to lead the project because of its expertise in successfully building and operating wastewater treatment facilities. The county will build and operate the treatment plant, and the City of Carnation will build and operate the collection system that will link homes and businesses to the new plant.

The partnership between King County and City of Carnation also included extensive stakeholder involvement with community groups, environmental groups, elected officials at the local, state and national levels, tribal governments, and community members.

"We're very proud to be part of such a successful collaborative effort" said King County Executive Ron Sims. "The Carnation treatment system project is an example of how governments can, and should, work together in the public interest."

When it comes online in 2008, the new treatment plant will improve the environment, protect groundwater and the Snoqualmie River, and allow the building of new homes and businesses within the city's urban growth area.

"The new wastewater system will create so many opportunities for our community in terms of comprehensive, well planned growth," said Carnation Mayor Bill Paulsen. "And it will enhance our quality of life by protecting the environment, including blue ribbon salmon spawning grounds in the Snoqualmie River."

King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert played a key role in making sure her constituent's questions and concerns were brought to the team involved in project planning.

"I want to thank people for contacting me, because your comments will help us build a treatment plant that reflects the needs and values of this community," Lambert said.

"My priority was to help reduce the financial burden of building this system to the citizens of Carnation," said U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, who represents Washington's 8th Congressional District. "So far, $1.5 million in federal funding has been provided for this project, and I'll continue to pursue another $500,000 dollars in this year's EPA budget."

The City of Carnation and King County have also worked to get state and federal grants, low-interest loans, and other financial aid to offset construction costs and reduce rates and fees. Currently, the estimated monthly rate is about $115, but the county and city are working on a variety of payment options and financial assistance programs to help homeowners and businesses cover the costs of hooking up.

"We're committed to doing everything we can to minimize financial impacts to people converting from septic to sewer," said Sims.

Also attending the event were state and local elected officials and tribal government representatives; local agency and jurisdiction staff; environmental and community groups; project consultants and contractors; and interested residential and business neighbors.

The state-of-the-art treatment plant will treat up to 500,000 gallons of wastewater a day with advanced membrane bioreactor technology. The highly treated water will be discharged to a wetland in the Chinook Bend Natural Area, which will be beneficial for wildlife habitat. The use of membrane bioreactor technology will also allow for expanded use of reclaimed water that can be used for irrigation and wetland enhancement.

The new treatment plant will serve about 2,000 people in Carnation's urban growth area, with capacity to serve up to 4,000 in 2030. For more information about the project, please visit: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wtd/carnation/index.htm.

People enjoy clean water and a healthy environment because of King County's wastewater treatment program. The county's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and water quality by serving 17 cities, 17 local sewer utilities and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Formerly called Metro, the regional clean-water agency now operated by King County has been preventing water pollution for more than 40 years.