King County’s clean-water utility has budgeted $195.7 million in capital projects to expand the wastewater system, modernize existing facilities, and ensure continued compliance with environmental laws.
King County is budgeting $6 million to upgrade pumping equipment and system controls at the South Treatment Plant in Renton.
“Our wastewater infrastructure investments ensure the next generation of Puget Sound area residents have access to the enviable quality of life that makes this region such a great place to live, work, and play,” said King County Wastewater Treatment Division Director Pam Elardo.
In addition to supporting growth and development, these infrastructure investments create jobs that will bolster local economic recovery. King County estimates it creates 115 full- and part-time jobs for every $10 million it invests in construction.
Here are the major construction and design projects scheduled for 2013 throughout King County’s regional wastewater service area.
North King County/South Snohomish County
North Creek Interceptor : King County will invest $3.5 million to upgrade a major portion of an aging sewer line serving the Bothell area since the early 1970s. More information at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/North/NCI.aspx
East King County
Kirkland Pump Station: In 2013, King County will invest $2 million to update a facility that serves City of Kirkland sewer customers. The project which is currently in construction, entails increasing pumping capacity, replacing aging equipment, and installing new, larger diameter pipes.
More information at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/East/Kirkland.aspx
South King County
South Treatment Plant improvements: King County is budgeting $6 million to upgrade pumping equipment and system controls at the South Treatment Plant in Renton. More information at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/About/System/South.aspx
Kent/Auburn Conveyance System Improvements
King County will invest $8 million to add sewer line capacity in sections of Auburn and Kent. More information at:http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/South/KentAuburn.aspx
Regionwide
Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund: King County will invest $3.3 million to continue its work with EPA and the state Department of Ecology on Superfund cleanup strategy. More information at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/watersheds/green-river/OurDuwamish.aspx
Conveyance System Improvements: In 2013, the utility will spend $6.1 million to carry out activities that guide the planning, design, and construction of new pipeline improvements and expansions within the utility’s 420-square-mile service area. More information at:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wastewater/CSI/ProgramUpdate/ExecSum.aspx
Seattle
Ballard Siphon: King County will spend $12.2 million to continue construction on a new 84-inch inverted siphon pipeline between the Ballard and Interbay areas of Seattle that will replace a 75-year-old wood stave pipe now beneath the Lake Washington Ship Canal. More information at:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/Seattle/BallardSiphon.aspx
Puget Sound Beach CSO Control: King County plans to invest about $25 million to begin construction on four projects to control combined sewer overflows, or CSOs, that occur during heavy rains near popular recreation beaches in West Seattle, North Beach and Magnolia. More information at:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/Seattle/BeachCSO.aspx
Fremont Siphon: The utility plans to spend $4.5 million in 2013 to begin replacing a 100-year-old sewer line that carries untreated wastewater beneath the Lake Washington Ship Canal from Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood to the West Point Treatment Plant in Magnolia.More information at:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/Seattle/FremontSiphon.aspx
Interbay Pump Station: Construction will continue to replace pumping equipment and aging electrical equipment and systems at this station near the Pier 91 cruise ship terminal in the Interbay area. The county is spending $4.9 million for the project this year. More information at:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/Seattle/Interbay.aspx
Barton Street Pump Station upgrade: In 2013, King County is spending $6.7 million for construction to upgrade this pump station in West Seattle adjacent the Fauntleroy ferry dock to meet current design and safety standards. Improvements will include a new emergency generator system, larger pumps, and an upgraded electrical system. More information at:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/Seattle/BartonSt.aspx
West Point Treatment Plant Screenings Project: The utility will invest $12.6 million to replace aging equipment and install new bar screens to better filter debris from wastewater entering the plant. The project also entails building a new facility to process the additional screened material. More information at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/About/System/West/Plant/Projects/Screenings.aspx
