Council discusses city’s sewer system plan

Published 12:06 am Tuesday, July 14, 2009

In the near future, Bonney Lake may have to look elsewhere to move its sewer waste.

That was the theme when City Council members heard information on Comphensive Sewer System Plan at their July 7 workshop at City Hall.

According to Public Works Director Dan Grigsby, the Sumner wasterwater treatment facility receives all of Bonney Lake’s wastewater and treats it at its plant. Clean water is discharged into the Puyallup River and treated solids are dried and made into fertilizer available at no cost.

Geoff Dillard of RH2 told the council there are options for the city’s future sewer needs. He said one option is to contract with the city of Renton and another is build a new treatment plant.

He said a building a new treatment plant would take longer to permit and in case of an emergency, would have to find an outlet to the river.

Councilman James Rackley asked Dillard if he has discussed Bonney Lake’s growth with Sumner and how much the neighboring city would be willing to share.

Dillard said he hadn’t spoken to Sumner officials lately about the city’s future sewer needs. He said originally the contract it was a 50-50 split with an option to buy if Sumner wasn’t using 5 percent more.

Under contract, Dillard said, if an upgrade is needed, it would be a 50-50 split.

“Unless you negotiate, that 5 percent may not be available,” Dillard stated.

Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman stated the city doesn’t have an agreement with Sumner to expand its sewer plant.

Grigsby said Sumner officials gave the city record showing the flow rate, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS). He said the TSS was between 60 and 65 percent capacity.

BOD measures the amount of organics in wastewater and TSS measures the amount of organics in solid waste.

By 2012, Grigsby said, two remaining tanks – part of the original design – need to be built so the city has full capacity of the plant.

Swatman said because of Sumner’s population projects, they don’t have significant pressure on their plant.

Dillard told the council, if they didn’t move forward soon, the city would be in trouble.

Grisgby said by the end of 2012 or 2013, the TSS would be at a point where the city needs to have a solution.

“We either build the two tanks or do something else,” he said.

He said by the end of 2009, whatever decision is jointly made, the city should be at the 30-percent design stage.

“Finish the design next year, so by the end of 2010 we would be able to build in 2011 or 2012, whatever facility is needed,” Grigsby said.

Councilman Mark Hamilton asked if the city has contacted other area entities. Hamilton said he’d like to see the city find a group of utilities to partner with.

Dillard said he’s talked with Auburn and King County about the North Service Area, but it a long distance away. He said there is no sewer treatment plant close in Pierce County.

Hamilton said if the county was to develop their land on the Plateau, it would need to invest in a treatment facility.

Dillard said his company was contracted in 2007 to update the CSSP to be inline with rates studies and changes in connection charges. Data was taken from the end of 2007 for the study, he said.

“Even though growth has dropped off, the data is still a good roadmap to use,” Dillard said.

He said population projections are based on data from the Puget Sound Regional Council.

Dillard stated the city’s population was 7,882 in 1995, 15,740 in 2007 and projected to be more than 20,000 in 2017.

Three major elements of the plan are treatment capacity, collection system redundancy and system inventory and valuation.

Data showed the treatment capacity was 0.8 MGD (million gallons per day) in 1996, increased to 2.3 in 2007 and is estimated at 3.1 in 2017. It measures quantity of flow of wastewater.

Dillard said the plans shows a need for appropriate backup, reclamation of water and aquifer recharge.

According to the plan, the Capital Improvement Plan includes a six-year focus on interceptor replacements, analysis of lift station capacity and treatment options. Dillard said annual improvement programs should include improving lift stations, rehabilitating manholes, evaluating sewer mains and reducing septic systems.

Data shows the city had 39 miles of sewer mains in 1995 and increased to 81 miles in 2007, while the number of lift stations increased from 15 to 22.

Dillard said the plan recommends for the city to continue to plan for additional treatment capacity, plan for the North and South Service Areas, monitor and repair sewer mains, explore reclaimed water use potential and increased operations and maintenance levels.

The North Service Area is comprised of Sumner, new developments in the city, drainfield and parts of Auburn and King County.

The South Service Area includes part of Sumner, some new developments in the city and drainfields.

During her presention, Angie Sanchez Virnoche of FCS Group, noted the state law gives authority to make changes for connecting to sewer systems based on intent and structure of RCW and cost of system.

Virnoche said System Development Charges are calculated on six-year capital improvement projects; existing, future and treatment costs; existing system asset value as of December 2007; residential equivalent representing 275 gallons per day wastewater from one single-family home; and 70 percent of residential equivalent for each unit of multi-family housing.

She said the proposed adjusted SDC for sewer in 2009 is $10,366. The current SDC for sewer is 9,099.

Grigsby said the CSSP next goes before the Planning Commission, then a public hearing. It returns to the council in September for changes and to adopt the final plan for sewer and water.

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