Year in review - 2004What we do King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division maintains and operates the equipment and facilities that collect and treat wastewater before it is reused or released into Puget Sound. The division provides wholesale wastewater services to 18 cities, 15 sewer districts, and the Muckleshoot Utility District, serving nearly 1.4 million residents and businesses in King County and parts of Pierce and Snohomish counties. The Wastewater Treatment Division also recycles the byproducts of the wastewater treatment process— primarily biosolids, energy, and reclaimed water—in ways that benefit the environment and ratepayers. Both regional wastewater treatment plants—West Point in Seattle and South in Renton—received 2004 Gold Awards from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies. The awards are given to wastewater agencies whose day-to-day performance meets stringent environmental standards of excellence. The plants safely treated an average of 183 million gallons of wastewater per day in 2004. >> back to top
Artist: Michael Kowalski.
- Brightwater Treatment Plant – In late 2003, County Executive Ron Sims approved building a new Brightwater Treatment Plant at Route 9 north of Woodinville. When complete in 2010, the facility will treat up to 36 million gallons of sewage a day from north King County and south Snohomish County.
- During 2004, staff focused on design, permits, and property acquisition for the new plant. In the fall, Brightwater opened an on-site project office, giving neighbors an opportunity to meet face-to-face with staff members about project-related questions or concerns. Construction on Brightwater is expected to begin in 2006.
- Regional Wastewater Services Plan (RWSP) Update – An update to the RWSP was completed in March identifying necessary project and cost changes through 2030.
- Carnation Treatment Plant – Planning also ramped up to construct a new treatment plant to serve the Carnation area. After several years of analysis and discussion with the community, the County Executive selected a site at the western edge of the city. King County expects to begin construction in 2006 and operations by the end of 2007.
- Major construction projects – Upgrades to several other major facilities took place in 2004 in anticipation of the expanded service to be provided by the Brightwater and Carnation plants. Among those projects were modifications to some of the 43 pump stations, improvements to sewer pipelines, and an upgrade to the treatment plant that serves Vashon Island.
>> back to top The Industrial Waste Program worked with both large and small businesses to prevent harmful wastes from entering our regional waters and help make biosolids safe for recycling. The program also worked with regional and local partners to identify and control sources of pollutants to the Duwamish Waterway. Significant progress was made in two projects designed to control the blending of sewer flows and stormwater (combined sewer overflows, or CSOs) during heavy rains. The Denny Way/Lake Union CSO Control Project will control all the CSOs into Seattle’s Lake Union. The Henderson/MLK/Norfolk CSO Control Project will bring the last uncontrolled county CSO into Lake Washington into compliance. >> back to top With the help of federal grant funding, the world’s largest molten carbonate fuel cell demonstration project at South Plant continued to test the promise of fuel cells to supply energy with minimal air pollution. A second project at South Plant was under way to expand the plant’s ability to convert gas generated by its digesters to electricity by using turbines. These projects are expected to eventually make the facility largely power independent. Farmers who apply biosolids to their crops teamed with University of Washington scientists to research making biodiesel from biosolids-fertilized canola crops. Using biodiesel in the division’s fleet could also reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. >> back to top In 2000, the division launched a comprehensive productivity program to ensure ef. cient management and service delivery. The ten-year program has already saved ratepayers more than $16 million. In 2004, all labor contracts with the division’s 650 employees were approved, helping ensure a stable workplace. >> back to top The Wastewater Treatment Division’s highest priority in 2005 will continue to be providing its customers with excellent around-the-clock wastewater services. In 2005, the division will also: - Expand clean-up activities in the contaminated Lower Duwamish River area to improve water quality and fish habitat;
- Help the County Executive select a final inflow/infiltration program to reduce extra water that seeps into the system;
- Be a good neighbor as design of the Brightwater and Carnation treatment plants moves forward; and
- Refine the division’s operating business plan, and continue to expand the productivity program to portions of the capital program.
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