Wastewater Utility

The wastewater system has 127 miles of sanitary and combined sewers ranging from 4 to 48 inches in diameter, 17 pump stations, a secondary wastewater treatment plant, and about 7,200 service connections.

The treatment plant has capacity projected to be adequate until at least 2030, and a design population of 24,800 (2010 population was 19,038, U.S. Census Bureau estimates 2013 population was 19,190). Rates are based on water usage.

Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Program

The city’s Wastewater Utility is required by the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) to implement its industrial wastewater pretreatment program to comply with our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, and to comply with Environmental Protection Agency standards.

The Wastewater Pretreatment Program manages discharges from non-residential customers. It works to ensure that the city’s wastewater discharge does not contain excessive levels of nutrients, suspended solids, acidity or alkalinity, toxins, or heavy metals. The Wastewater Pretreatment Program uses outreach, Best Management Practices, regulations, and discharge permits to achieve these goals.

For more information please email the Source Control Specialist, or call 360-417-4692.

Wastewater Comprehensive Plan

The city’s Wastewater Comprehensive Plan is an evaluation of the overall state of the City's sanitary sewer system.  This plan aims to identify improvements required for both the City's wastewater collection system and wastewater treatment plant.  The plan considers projections for 10-year and 20-year planning periods out to 2040, prioritizing capital improvement projects based on risk, zoning, growth projections, regulatory requirements, project cost, and system benefit.  The adoption of a Wastewater Comprehensive Plan is a regulatory requirement of the Department of Ecology.

Four possible funding scenarios were presented to both the Utility Advisory Committee and City Council for direction on how to fund and implement the plan.  On October 3, 2024, City Council authorized staff to work toward incorporation of Scenario 1a:  Cash Financed Capital Improvement Plan (rate increases every other year starting in 2025) in the draft Wastewater Comprehensive Plan, with system development charge update and submit the draft Wastewater Comprehensive Plan to Department of Ecology.  
In June 2024, Department of Ecology approved the plan.  Next, staff will present the approved plan to City Council to formally adopt.

For more information and to review the Wastewater Comprehensive Plan, please click here.

Combined Sewer Overflows

For more information on Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) please click here. Combined Sewer Overflows Combined Sewer Overflows Combined Sewer Overflows Combined Sewer Overflows