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Image: In-person annual public meeting at the Magnolia Library
We recently hosted our 2023 annual public meetings, and it was so great to see you! The sessions, hosted both in person and virtually, were held to inform the nearby community of our plans for the many capital improvements taking place at West Point Treatment Plant. Each meeting took our neighbors on a journey through historical context, project updates, highlights and challenges. We concluded with a Q&A session to allow attendees to ask questions and provide comments.
What did you all bring up in these meetings?
At the end of each meeting, attendees were encouraged to ask questions regarding the information presented. Key themes from the Q&A included the impacts on surrounding homes, future projects for the treatment plant and the potential for public tours. We promise – tours will be back on once most of the projects are completed. Until then, if you are interested in touring a King County wastewater treatment plant, the South Treatment Plant offers tours during certain times of the year!
Couldn’t make the meeting but want all the details? Visit our site to view the meeting summary and watch the recording.
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Learn about "FOG" and demystify our conveyance system
 Image: Infographic detailing how to dispose of cooking oil and grease
Let’s face it: no one wants sewage backed up in their homes. Cooking oil and grease down the drain are the uninvited parties to our plumbing system that lead to clogged pipes, hefty water bills and even pollution in Puget Sound.
At home, even small amounts washed down the drain can build up over time. That’s why it’s important to understand how to manage fats, oils, and grease (FOG) and how our conveyance system works.
To help mitigate the pollutants and waste that harm our sewage system, King County implements local limits and regulations, especially for industrial facilities.
What should you do with used cooking oil and grease instead?
The correct way to dispose of cooking oil and grease depends on the amount you have.
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Small amounts of oil and grease can be wiped up by paper towels or newspaper and placed in the compost.
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Large amounts of liquid oil can be poured into a container, closed with a lid, and placed next to your recycling cart for curbside pickup. For SPU, you have a maximum two plastic, one-gallon containers with a screw-top per pickup. If there is a large amount of grease, you can scrape it into a container, cover with a lid, and place in the garbage.
Delivery! Batteries arrive at West Point
Image: Packages of batteries are unloaded at West Point Treatment Plant
West Point Treatment Plant has been receiving package after package, but it's not your average shopping haul. Divided into 56 giant battery cabinets, over 2,000 batteries have been delivered to West Point. Altogether, the batteries have a combined maximum power output level of 10 megawatts. Once installed, the batteries will help to provide stable power to the seven IPS/EPS (Intermediate Pump Station/Effluent Pump Station) pumps. The IPS pump helps move water through the plant. The EPS helps pump the treated wastewater, or effluent, out of the plant.
For decades, the West Point Treatment Plant has been discharging treated water into the Puget Sound, but split-second voltage sags (think of flickering lights) can occasionally trip the plant’s equipment to begin shutting down. These batteries will provide a stable amount of power to help protect West Point IPS/EPS pumps ride through small power fluctuations.
The batteries are not intended to power West Point for any amount of time. West Point requires more than 12 megawatts of power to keep the plant running. That’s enough power for roughly 11,000 homes! The batteries will help ensure that the power delivered to the Plant’s IPS/EPS pumps is more stable – not too much nor too little power that could trigger equipment to begin shutting down.
Crews are expected to complete construction of the project in summer 2024, at which time West Point will charge up and be ready to ride through power sags.
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Projects moving into construction this year
Image: Recently completed electrical control upgrades
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Hailing in the New Year, West Point has several projects set to begin construction in the coming months. Check out everything planned for the year in our project list and stay tuned for more updates!
Projects entering construction in 2024:
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Raw Sewage Pump Replacement
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Grit Classifier Replacement
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Passive Weir Construction
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Warning System Upgrade – intended goal of reaching substantial completion by December 2024
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Oxygen Generating And Dissolution System (OGADS) Media Replacement – begin replacing media along one train of OGADS
Projects Continuing with Construction in 2024:
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Power Quality Improvement Project – on schedule to be completed by end of 2024
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Primary Sedimentation Tanks Coating – coating one of two tanks
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Low Pressure Sludge Gas (LSG) Piping Replacement – replacing piping around two digesters
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Instrument and Service Air Replacement – installing new and temporary service air system
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Fire Suppression System Supply Line Backflow Prevention
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PE (Primary Effluent) and FE (Final Effluent) Flow Meter Replacements
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Waste Gas Burner (WGB) Control Panel Roofs & Maintenance Platforms
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Most of these projects are expected to have little to no community impact. We will keep you informed when construction may impact Discovery Park visitors or nearby neighbors.
Here is all the construction we accomplished in 2023:
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Intermediate Pump Station (IPS) Pumps #2 and #3 were refurbished one year ahead of schedule.
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Primary Sedimentation Z-Beam roofs were removed and replaced.
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Power monitoring equipment maintenance and upgrades reached substantial completion.
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The media in OGADS Train #2 was installed and the system recommissioned to work with the new media to help maintain an aerobic environment for wastewater treatment.
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West Point procured the GC/CM Contract, selecting Hoffman Construction to oversee numerous projects. This will increase coordination among projects and reduce various risks that could delay projects from being completed.
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Universal Power Supply (UPS) replacement completed ahead of the schedule.
Needless to say, West Point will be even busier in 2024 than 2023! All of these projects fill a critical need. Each project will allow West Point to continuously treat wastewater 24/7/365 to protect public health and the environment from now and well into the future.
If you have any questions or concerns, or represent an organization and would like a briefing to learn more about particular projects, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Image: Flooded street from a clogged drain
Hold onto your plungers, because we've got more unlikely materials slipping into our wastewater stream straight from the leafy trenches! Solid materials coming into West Point do not just come from what gets flushed down your pipes, but also what gets swept into storm drains. Most of the sewer system that runs to West Point is what is called a “combined-sewer system”. This means all the yard waste you forgot to rake can wind up in the same pipes that run to your toilet! Clearing leaves and other debris from storm drains and gutters helps to not only prevent flooding in our neighborhoods but reduces the wear and tear on our treatment system. Leaves, debris, and garbage have to be removed from the wastewater stream before treatment can begin. Delays usually start here as crews attempt to remove material clogging equipment.
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 Image: The Loop cycle
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