Politics & Government

Pierce County Planning $305 Million Expansion To Wastewater Treatment Plant

The work is currently being designed, and construction is expected to last between 2013 and 2016.

Pierce County is planning a big expansion for its wastewater treatment plant in University Place.

Design work is underway for a $305 million expansion, for which construction is expected to take place 2013 to 2016.

Once completed, almost everything at the plant — located near University Place’s southern end — will get an upgrade.

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“Essentially, with this expansion, every piece is going to get touched in some way or another,” according to Ryan Dooley, Sewer Utility Project Manager.

Improvements will include:

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• .

• Increased odor control.

• The ability to produce more SoundGRO fertilizer.

• Expanded disinfection capacity and new processing equipment.

• New laboratory, operations, maintenance and warehouse facilities.

Project funding comes from a combination of monthly sewer fees, connection charges and grants. The County Council approved a $62 million bond issue, the first of three needed to finance the project.

Pierce County's Sewer Utility provides wastewater management, collection and treatment services to about 252,000 customers who generate an average of 19 million gallons of wastewater per day. By 2020, the volume of wastewater is expected to reach 28 million gallons per day, increasing to 42 million by 2040.

The sewer system serves a 117-square-mile area that includes University Place, Lakewood, DuPont, Steilacoom and a portion of Tacoma. It also serves the unincorporated communities of Parkland, Spanaway, Midland, South Hill and Frederickson.


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