Spokane County Utilities provides wastewater management for residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Spokane Valley and North Spokane service areas.  In recent years, the County has rapidly expanded its wastewater collection system to reduce the number of septic tanks located over the Spokane Aquifer.  This sewer expansion program is projected to continue through 2015 to provide wastewater service to all existing development within the County’s sewer service area.  Along with the sewer system extensions, the County’s sewer service area is projected to experience significant growth over the next twenty years.  Both factors will sharply increase the quantity of wastewater that must be responsibly managed.  By 2025, the County will need approximately 22 million gallons per day (mgd) of wastewater treatment capacity to handle projected flows.

Currently, wastewater generated in the County is sent, via a sewer network, to the Spokane Advanced Treatment Plant (SAWTP), which is owned and operated by the City of Spokane.  A 1980 interlocal agreement established the basis for the City to treat up to 10 million gallons per day of County generated wastewater.  The County expects to exceed that capacity by the end of 2007, creating a need for new wastewater treatment capacity.  To identify a means for establishing new capacity, the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners authorized preparation of a Wastewater Facilities Plan.

The Wastewater Facilities Planning work is being conducted in three steps:

The Draft Basis of Planning Report was issued in December 2000.  A final version of this document, along with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Wastewater Facilities Plan can be accessed by clicked on the buttons on the right under the Spokane County logo.