UPDATE Wastewater Facility Plan December, 2000

Inside This Issue:

SECOND SET OF PUBLIC MEETINGS PLANNED: learn about the alternatives and share your comments

WASTEWATER FACILITIES ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPED: public comments requested

SUMMARY OF PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED: what opinions were received

2000 COMPREHENSIVE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN: new policies and acceleration of sewer          extensions being considered

SECOND SET OF PUBLIC MEETINGS PLANNED: learn about the alternatives and share your comments

The second in a series of public meetings planned for Spokane County's Wastewater Facilities Planning project will be held in January. These duplicate meetings will provide an opportunity for County residents and businesses to learn about proposed wastewater management alternatives and provide comments. The proposed wastewater management alternatives include various combinations of facilities located in the City of Spokane, Spokane Valley, and North Spokane. In addition, multiple scenarios for wastewater recycling, reuse and disposal are proposed (see page 2 for an overview of the alternatives that will be discussed at these meetings). In the Spring of 2000, Spokane County Utilities began the process of developing a Wastewater Facilities Plan which will identify wastewater facilities and programs that must be implemented to meet County customer’s long-term needs. With the expansion of the County wastewater collection system to reduce the number of septic tanks located over the Spokane Aquifer and to accommodate future growth, the County expects to exceed its currently available capacity at the Spokane

Regional Treatment Plant by the end of 2007. An increase in capacity at the Spokane Regional Treatment Plant may not be available to meet the long term needs of the County. Therefore, Spokane County began this wastewater planning process to evaluate future County wastewater service areas, project future wastewater flows, and develop recommendations for new wastewater treatment facilities and reclamation programs. Be sure to attend one of the duplicate public meetings in January to learn more about the Wastewater Facilities Planning project and the proposed alternatives being considered. The comments and insights you provide at these public meetings will be considered by the planning team as they refine the alternatives, and develop wastewater facilities recommendations. Future meetings will be held on the proposed wastewater facilities plan recommendations.

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WASTEWATER FACILITIES ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPED: public comments requested

Over the past few months, the Spokane County Wastewater Facilities Planning team has been reviewing ways to manage wastewater generated in the Spokane County sewer service area. The planning team has considered the public comments gathered to date (see article on Page 3), and have screened and evaluated many ideas to eliminate concepts with fatal flaws, excessive cost or other unworkable features. This evaluation has resulted in four basic alternatives relating to treatment plant locations, and additional alternatives relating to demand management, effluent end use, and biosolids management. The County’s wastewater facilities plan will contain elements from each of these categories. Treatment Plant Locations - At the heart of the alternatives analysis is the question of where treatment capacity should be provided. Four major alternatives are being considered for handling the County’s projected wastewater flow rate in the year 2020 (estimated to be 21 million gallons per day). These alternatives include: Alternative 1 -- Continue to send all County wastewater to the Spokane Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (SAWTP) which is operated by the City of Spokane. This would require major expansion of this treatment plant and resolution of the challenges associated with getting the increased County flows to the plant. Alternative 2 -- Combination of using the SAWTP, with a new treatment plant located in the south-central part of the City of Spokane, and a new North Spokane Plant along the Little Spokane River. In this concept, treatment of County wastewater would be provided in multiple treatment plants. Various combinations of treatment plant locations and sizes are being evaluated. Alternative 3 -- Combination of using the SAWTP, with a new Mid-Valley Plant located along the Spokane River, and a new North Spokane Plant along the Little Spokane River. The Mid-Valley plant would serve all or part of the wastewater generated in the Spokane Valley. Various combinations of treatment plant locations and sizes are being evaluated.

Alternative 4 -- Combination of using the SAWTP, multiple Mid-Valley Plants, and a new North Spokane Plant along the Little Spokane River. This alternative would provide several smaller plants in the Spokane Valley built close to where the wastewater is generated and to where the treated effluent could potentially be beneficially reused. This may reduce the cost of conveyance facilities and increase the flexibility of the wastewater management program. Various combinations of treatment plant locations and sizes are being evaluated, along with reuse opportunities. Additional Alternatives - In addition to treatment plant locations, alternatives are being developed for: Demand Management -- reducing the quantity or strength of wastewater that must be treated, such as: water conservation, price surcharges, and stricter limitations on high strength wastes. Effluent End Use -- addressing how the treated effluent is returned to the environment or beneficially reused, such as: irrigation of golf courses, cemeteries, parks, landscaped office parks, greenspaces, and agricultural property; industrial reuse for process or cooling water; creation of wetlands; and groundwater recharge. Biosolids Management -- treating and reusing residual materials from the wastewater treatment process, such as: land application on farmlands and mine reclamation sites; composting to produce a soil amendment; privatized biosolids management; and treatment at the SAWTP.

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SUMMARY OF PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED: what opinions were received

To assist the planning team gain an understanding of the various community priorities, issues and concerns regarding wastewater management, a variety of opportunities have been provided for Spokane County residents and businesses to share comments over the last few months. Here is a summary of what we heard. Community Stakeholder Interviews: Twenty-two representatives from various stakeholder groups were interviewed during the summer. A set of fourteen questions were asked, and the following summarizes the comments: Most of those interviewed felt the County has been providing good sewer service, however, concerns were raised regarding the current City/County wastewater management arrangement. There was strong support for both the County expanding its wastewater management services and for developing a comprehensive regional wastewater management approach. The top wastewater priorities were public health, aquifer/drinking water protection, and Spokane River water quality protection. Support was expressed for a new effluent discharge to the Spokane River; use of the Liberty Lake treatment plant; use of reclaimed wastewater for agricultural irrigation, urban irrigation, creation of wetlands, and underground storage for irrigation or stream flow augmentation. However, there were varied opinions and concerns regarding a new effluent discharge to Little Spokane River, and using highly treated wastewater for irrigation of school and park landscapes. The majority of those interviewed felt recharge of the Spokane Aquifer with treated effluent would not be a viable option due to public health concerns and public perceptions. Most supported recycling of treated effluent and biosolids, with some concerns expressed, and most indicated they would pay more to achieve recycling benefits. Half of those interviewed supported including recreational enhancements at new wastewater treatment facilities, and many ideas were shared on how the County might increase public benefit from new facilities. Questionnaire on Wastewater Management: In the first issue of this Update newsletter, we sent out 54,000 questionnaires to County residents and businesses in the County’s 20year sewer service area. We received 648 responses, and the following

summarizes the answers to the questions: 67% of the respondents felt the County's sewer program was fair, good, or excellent, 10% felt it was poor, while 22% indicated that they were not sure how the County was doing. When asked to indicate their top three wastewater management priorities and issues, 30% indicated aquifer and drinking water protection, 20% indicated protection of public health, 17% indicated Spokane River water quality protection, and 15% indicated cost. 35% of the respondents indicated that they were willing to pay a higher wastewater rate (equally split on $5 and $10) to achieve recycling benefits, such as recycling of treated effluent and biosolids for uses such as irrigation, wetlands creation, and soil amendments. 29% indicated they were not sure if they would be willing to pay more. 40% indicated that if it becomes necessary for the County to build another wastewater treatment plant at a new site, they do NOT think the County should consider providing enhancements to the site (such as a community park, trails, or other such features) if it makes the project more costly. 35% of the respondents indicated they might support such enhancements, depending on the site. 7% indicated they were not sure, and 18% supported such enhancements. 27% of the respondents indicated that they think a new regional entity separate from the City and County (such as a utility district or regional metro agency) should be established to manage wastewater in the entire Spokane urbanized area. 11% indicated that they supported a new regional entity somewhat, 27% were not sure, and 34% did not support a new regional entity. Numerous additional ideas and comments were provided. September 21, 2000 Public Meeting: A public meeting was held on September 21st to provide an overview of the Wastewater Facilities Planning project and to gather comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement that will be prepared during the planning process. Thirty-five people attended the meeting. Information was presented on the planning schedule and projections, water resources and water quality, possible wastewater management alternatives, environmental impact statement scoping, and the County sewering program. The planning team will consider all provided comments as the wastewater management alternatives and recommendations are developed.

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2000 COMPREHENSIVE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN: new policies and acceleration of sewer extensions being considered

In addition to the development of a Wastewater Facilities Plan, the County is updating their Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) which will describe 1) when and where the County will build new sewer lines, and 2) the County policies associated with providing sewer service. These two plans are closely linked and being developed along parallel tracks. The 1996 Interim Update of the CWMP was adopted recognizing that it would need to be finalized in conjunction with the County’s overall Comprehensive Plan, in order to be consistent with the Growth Management Act (GMA). The Division of Utilities is currently preparing the 2000 CWMP so that it may be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for adoption once the County’s Comprehensive Plan is adopted. Listed below are the major work activities associated with the finalization of the 2000 CWMP:

CWMP planning criteria are being refined to coincide with the current requirements of the GMA and the County’s sewer service obligations. Issues of land use, population distribution, wastewater flow projections, service areas, water quality impacts, and funding strategies are being revisited. Changes in regional wastewater issues are being reviewed to determine significant impacts on the conclusions and recommendations in the 1996 CWMP. Items being considered include 1) revisions and reprioritization of projects in the Sewer Capital Improvement Program, and 2) approaches to accelerate sewer construction within the Urban Growth Area. Sewer policies implemented by the County since 1996 are being refined and updated. Be sure to attend one of the public meetings in January 2001 (see article on page 1) to learn more about this CWMP planning effort and to provide your comments on the ideas and alternatives being considered.

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WASTEWATER FACILITIES PLANNING: what's next Watch for upcoming announcements for more opportunitties to comment on the wastewater facilities plan recommendations and projected project costs. Call 477-3604 Ext. 7176 if you want to be added to the project mailing list!!

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