A Project to Help Protect Hood Canal Waters

A project will soon be constructed to help preserve and protect the water quality of the lower Hood Canal area. The goal of the project is to eliminate a source of pollution into Hood Canal - existing septic system drain fields located close to the canal's shore. These systems would be replaced with a new community sewer system, "membrane bioreactor" wastewater treatment plant, and upland filtration system for environmentally safe discharge of the highly treated effluent into the ground. Funding for this project is being provided by grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology.

The area that will be served by the new sewer system extends from Potlatch State Park and the new Tribal housing development north to the Waterfront Hotel. Residences and businesses on both sides of Highway 101 will be considered for connection to the new sewer system. Wastewater from the area would be collected and pumped through a new buried pipeline up to the new wastewater treatment plant for treatment to produce reclaimed water using state-of-the-art membrane filtration and disinfection technology. This plan would prevent the underground flow of untreated sewage pollutants into Hood Canal.

Construction of the new wastewater reclamation plant will begin in early 2012 and will be completed in mid 2013. Construction of the new sewer system along Highway 101 will be constructed in 2013 to coincide with the completion of the treatment plant.

If you desire more information about this project, you can call either of the following individuals:

Dave Bergdolt (Program Manager, Brown & Caldwell) (206) 749-2271

John Wilson (Design Consultant Project Manager, Gray & Osborne Inc.) (206) 284-0860

Please join us to help protect and preserve the beautiful waters of Hood Canal now and for generations to come!