8/20 Update: Heathfield Pump Station Wastewater Overflow Response
King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 08/20/2024 10:17 AM PDT
Aug. 20, 2024 Update
King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is contacting you to provide an update on our wastewater overflow response at the Heathfield Pump Station. You may unsubscribe from these emails at any time.
Vasa/Squibbs Creek and a portion of Lake Sammamish (shown in map, below) remain closed, and the public should stay out of those areas. The area shaded on the map shows the possible extent of wastewater flows into Lake Sammamish. Per the recommendation of Public Health—Seattle & King County, please avoid direct contact with the water until Thursday, August 22.
The following is a summary of our response activities to date. We will continue to keep the community, jurisdictions, and agencies up to date.
Pipe repair and cleanup
On Saturday, the County’s contractor installed a replacement segment of pipe. Work will continue this week to test the pipe and plan for any needed longer-term repairs.
King County’s contractor has completed cleanup activities around the station and adjacent roadways.
Environmental/Water quality response
King County’s Environmental Lab responded to the site to initiate water quality monitoring on Thursday, August 15. Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) was notified and provided direction on sampling and public notification.
As of Sunday, August 18, we are still seeing elevated levels of bacteria in the affected areas of the creek and lake as expected after a wastewater overflow event.
Water quality monitoring will continue daily until the beach is reopened, which we expect to be this Thursday.
Posted areas along Vasa/Squibbs Creek and the beach at Vasa Park Resort on private property remain closed and the public should stay out of those areas. Boating in the impacted area is allowed as long as you do not come in direct contact with the water. If you are on kayaks and canoes, please be careful not to fall into the water or touch the water.
The County will coordinate with Department of Ecology and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to assess any longer-term creek restoration activities.
This map shows the area potentially impacted by the sewer overflow from Aug. 15. PHSKC advises the public to avoid the areas along the creek and shoreline in yellow and on the lake in pink. These areas are determined by PHSKC, based on the maximum estimated volume of wastewater released in the lake.
Public notification and outreach
We are grateful for community members who have shared information and connected us with their neighbors who may not have been home and others who live outside the immediately affected area.
To find out more about this incident, please visit: kingcounty.gov/WTD-Incident-Response and sign up for email or text alerts.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Community Services hotline at 206-296-7432 and leave a message. Someone will return your call as soon as possible.
We appreciate the community’s cooperation as we address this unanticipated incident at the Heathfield Pump Station.
About King County Wastewater Treatment DivisionKing County Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and the environment by collecting and cleaning wastewater while recovering valuable resources for a healthy and resilient Puget Sound. We provide services to 18 cities, 15 local sewer districts, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and nearly 2 million people across a 424-square-mile area in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties.
|
||||||
|
Update your preferences or unsubscribe. If you have questions about this service, you may contact us directly or search FAQs here. View King County's privacy policy. This service is provided to you at no charge by King County, WA. |
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.