
West Point restoration
Response to February 9, 2017 storm incident
Restoration update: January 2020
Wastewater Treatment Division has completed more than half (56 of the 98) of the AECOM West Point Independent Assessment Report’s proposed recommendations . 22 other recommendations are in progress.
WTD has a comprehensive maintenance program for our facilities. Our operations staff visit each pump station weekly for routine maintenance and perform monthly mechanical testing of the emergency backup generators to ensure reliable redundancy.
West Point systems and operations improvements following the February 2017 flooding event:
We increased the frequency of our plant safety systems testing, updated our protocols, and regularly train all plant employees how to respond to emergency situations and unusual events. Our plant’s Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) were also updated, and we developed an ongoing training program for all plant employees in SOP education and compliance.
We installed hydraulic power systems at key locations to improve plant backup operations.
New equipment was installed to improve the reliability of the plant’s emergency response systems.
Key employee positions were added at West Point, including a plant training supervisor, a technical trainer, and an engineer to oversee the plant’s Life Safety Management program.
We developed a computerized model and simulator to help train operations staff how to respond to flow and emergency events.
Remote activation stations for plant emergency systems were installed to minimize or eliminate the need for staff to access potentially hazardous areas during emergent events.
We prioritized the system for plant alarms and installed dedicated alarm monitoring stations in key locations.
Monitoring update: February 2018
Restoration update: February 2018
- Improvements, upgrades strengthen West Point Treatment Plant operations, Sept 12, 2017
- King County utility issues statement on the West Point Independent Review, July 18, 2017
- West Point repair costs fall below insurance coverage limits; work to be complete in 2017, May 19, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant resumes full compliance with environmental permits, May 11, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Thursday, April 20, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Thursday, April 13, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Thursday, April 6, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Thursday, March 30, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Thursday, March 23, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Friday, March 17, 2017
- Statement on the King County Council’s motion for expert review of the West Point Treatment Plant Incident, March 13, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Thursday, March 9, 2017
- Progress puts West Point Treatment Plant on a path to resume normal operation April 30, March 7, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Friday, March 3, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Thursday, March 2, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Wednesday, March 1, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Monday, Feb. 27, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Friday, Feb. 24, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Monday, Feb. 20, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant restoration update for Feb. 18, 2017
- West Point Treatment Plant bypassing some flows as storm affects plant still in recovery, February 15, 2017
- King County West Point Treatment Plant resuming regular operations after storm disruption, February 10, 2017
- Update: King County continues work to restore operations at West Point Treatment Plant, February 9, 2017
- Operators respond to protect West Point Treatment Plant from flooding in heavy rains, high tides, February 9, 2017
- View more WTD news room.
- King County Council's Independent Review reports:
- Final Report - Implementation Plan for AECOM Recommendations Q3 2019 , November 2019
- Final Report - West Point Treatment Plant Independent Evaluation of Mitigation Strategies , March 1, 2019
- Final Report - West Point Treatment Plant Independent Assessment , July 18, 2017
- Presentation to the King County Council on the Independent Assessment of the West Point Treatment Plant , July 18, 2017
- Frequently Asked Questions – West Point Treatment Plant Restoration , revised May 19, 2017
- Presentation: Restoring the West Point Treatment Plant , March 18, 2017
- West Point Flooding Preliminary Findings Report, March 10, 2017 - 55MB
- Letter to Council , March 7, 2017
- Executive Summary – West Point Flood Investigation Findings Report , March 7, 2017
- System flow map
- Float switches
Background
West Point Treatment Plant suffered severe equipment failure and flooding early in the morning of Feb. 9, 2017, while operating at maximum capacity during a storm. The flooding severely damaged mechanical and electrical systems needed to provide secondary treatment of the wastewater and provide heat to the solids reduction biology, which essentially crippled the plant’s solids handling capabilities. For three months, the plant was unable to treat to secondary levels required under its state and federal permits.
In response to the incident, WTD completed a number of upgrades and improvements at West Point following the recommendations of its initial root cause analysis and an independent review commissioned by the King County Council. All repairs critical to plant operations were completed in April 2017. The plant resumed full compliance with environmental permits in May, and all long-term repairs and upgrades were completed as-scheduled by the end of 2017. Improvements also include strengthened safety training and clearer emergency protocols to protect workers and equipment.
Employee working on pump equipment. View more photos on our Flickr site .
Blog: Clean water stories
Public tours resume at the West Point Treatment Plant, May 24, 2018
A message from the department director: Preparing West Point for a growing region, August 11, 2017
Our thoughts on the West Point Independent Review Report, July 20, 2017
Monitoring the Environment During West Point Restoration, April 28, 2017
West Point Update: Fine Tuning the Biology, April 7, 2017
Reaching Out to the Next Generation of Clean Water Stewards, April 5, 2017
Norovirus Outbreak in Oysters Unrelated to West Point Overflow, March 31, 2017
'Tis the Season: Enjoy the Natural Beauty of Our Beaches and Waterways, March 30, 2017
King County’s Marine Monitoring Program Continues Rain or Shine, March 28, 2017
That Plume You See is Sediment, Not Sewage, March 21, 2017
Another Important Step Forward at West Point Treatment Plant, March 16, 2017
Restoration at West Point Treatment Plant: The Next Delicate Step, March 8, 2017
When the Unexpected Unfolds: Balancing Safety and Speed During Restoration, March 2, 2017
When the unexpected unfolds: protecting people after wastewater overflows, February 13, 2017