|
 View of the public viewing platform at Otter (Lower) Pond in the Brightwater trails area.
No public access to pond during this work
King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s (WTD) Mitigation and Monitoring team and EarthCorps crews will plant sedges on rafts in Otter (Lower) Pond. Sedges are grass-like plants that help cool the water and support a healthy ecosystem.
What to Expect:
- No public access to the lower viewing platform or pond edges during this work.
- There will be no trucks on trails.
- All work will be completed with hand tools.
- Work planned for Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11.
|
|
 A Brightwater operator expertly maneuvers a new membrane cassette into a tank. This is one of many new membrane cassettes that will be installed as part of this project. The long, white strands are tiny membranes that remove bacteria, viruses, and tiny particles.
Built in 2011, WTD’s Brightwater Treatment Plant near Woodinville uses an ultrafiltration membrane system to clean and treat wastewater. This system uses long, straw-like fiber membranes to remove bacteria, viruses, and micro-sized particles. We’re now replacing the plant’s state-of-the-art membrane filtration system after it reached the end of its useful life. Thanks to the dedicated care and maintenance by our staff, the original system lasted five years longer than the manufacturer’s 10-year lifespan rating!
The new ultrafiltration membrane filters are even more efficient and advanced, allowing us to treat the same amount of water with just 14 cassettes instead of the original 20. This helps save maintenance time and money. Cassettes are large metal frames that hold thousands of membrane fibers. This upgrade will also allow us to clean even more water in the future without expanding the plant’s footprint.
|
|
|
On April 25, members from WTD’s Education and Community Services team hosted a table at the Bee-utiful Woodinville Earth Day event. We spoke with about 100 people about Brightwater during this sunny, outdoor community event. The people we spoke with learned how Brightwater recycles resources from the wastewater treatment process, including recycled water and Loop biosolids.
Did you know?
The gardens in the planter boxes outside of Brightwater Center are watered using recycled water. We also distribute recycled water in the Sammamish River Valley, including at 60 Acres Park in Redmond.
Adults and kids alike enjoyed the “what not to flush” game which reminds people what goes down the drain (only pee, poop, puke, and toilet paper!). This helps prevent your pipes and ours from getting clogged. Community members on septic shared that are very familiar with this!
Join a tour to learn what happens inside the treatment plant
Many people were familiar with the Brightwater Center and trails area since it’s only a few miles from downtown Woodinville. If you’ve visited the trails area, but haven’t been inside the plant, you might be interested in taking a tour!
A handful of people shared that they originally had concerns about the treatment plant. But now, they appreciated visiting the trails and Education Center. They also shared that the plant doesn’t smell unlike the stock pot factory which was there before. By using an advanced odor control system, Brightwater Treatment Plant has consistently met the permit requirement for no odors beyond the fenceline since starting operations in 2011.
Do you want us to meet with your community group or organization?
Is there a community event you’d like us to be at?
|
|
 A WTD Conveyance Inspection crew member works inside a sewer maintenance hole to help lower the inspection device into the pipe.
What does it take to inspect more than 380 miles of County-owned sewer pipe? WTD’s conveyance inspection crews are monitoring the health of our regional system before small issues become bigger problems. They do this by:
-
Climbing into maintenance holes
-
Operating remote-controlled crawlers
-
Using sonar and 360-degree scanning technology.
One recently inspected maintenance hole dates back to 1913 and is still in service today!
|
|
|
The Brightwater trails area serves people of all ages and abilities, and wildlife. Thousands of children and adults enjoy these spaces all year long. We rely on you, our human visitors, to make sure everyone feels welcome and safe in these spaces.
When you’re at Brightwater, you must always keep your dog on a leash and pick up their poo.
This makes sure everyone, including other people, pets, and wildlife, can safely enjoy this space too! Keeping dogs on a leash is required in most public spaces. In fact, Snohomish County code requires all dogs must be leashed when off the owner’s property (Snohomish County Code 9.14.030). Learn more about Snohomish County’s policy for off-leash dogs, including what to do if you have concerns.
Picking up pet poo protects our local creeks, streams, rivers, and Puget Sound. Make sure you put the used bag in the garbage! If you can’t find a garbage disposal nearby, please take the waste home for disposal.
In Snohomish County, dogs produce 63 tons of poo every day! Bacteria and other pathogens can wash off on yards, streets, and trails into waterways and beaches. Yuck! Pet waste can harm fish and mammals and pollute our waters. Thanks for helping to protect our environment and community's health!
|
|
|
Sign up for The Bubbler newsletter to follow King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s latest news and updates on clean water investments. Get caught up by checking out the past issues, available on our website.
|
|
|
Interpretation and translation services are available to you at no cost. If you need them, please contact Brightwater@kingcounty.gov or call 206-296-7432. Please leave a message with your phone number and language if you would like a call back.
Los servicios de interpretación y traducción disponibles para usted sin costo alguno. Si los necesita, comuníquese con Brightwater@kingcounty.gov o llame al 206-296-7432. Deje un mensaje de voz con su número de teléfono y su idioma si desea que le regresen la llamada.
免費為您提供口譯和筆譯服務。如果您需要這些服 務，請聯絡 Brightwater@kingcounty.gov.
免费为您提供口译和笔译服务。如果您需要这些服 务，请联络 Brightwater@kingcounty.gov.
Alternative Formats Available: 206-477-5371 or TTY Relay: 711
Formatos alternativos disponibles: 206-477-5371 o retransmisión TTY: 711
|
|
|
|
|
