West Point Treatment Plant: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 02:50, 6 December 2023
The West Point Treatment Plant is a large wastewater treatment plant in Seattle. It is located in the Magnolia neighborhood, within Discovery Park. It is at the tip of West Point, near the West Point Lighthouse. The plant opened in 1966. It treats wastewater from the city of Seattle and other nearby communities. In 2017, the plant suffered a catastrophic flood that disabled it for months.
History
Before the plant was built, raw sewage flowed directly into the Puget Sound. The visibly polluted water often led to beach closures.[1] Communities surrounding Seattle dumped wastewater into Lake Washington, contaminating it as well. Planning for the treatment plant began in 1958, and construction began in 1962. The plant opened in 1966, providing primary treatment. Secondary treatment was added in 1996 to meet federal Clean Water Act requirements.[2][3]
Operation
West Point serves Seattle, Shoreline, and other surrounding areas of King County and Snohomish County. It serves combined sewer systems, which contain both wastewater and stormwater. Upgrades are underway to strengthen this system against greater storms due to climate change.[4] The system currently treats approximately 90 million US gallons (340 million litres) per day during dry conditions and over 300 million US gallons (1,100 million litres) per day during wet conditions. Primary treatment is possible for flows up to 440 million US gallons (1,700 million litres) per day.[5]
The plant begins with basic filtration and primary treatment. Secondary treatment consists of aeration tanks and clarifier tanks. Water is disinfected with hypochlorite before it is released into the Puget Sound.[6][7]
Solids are thickened and anaerobically digested. Gas from the process is burned for electricity to power the plant, and is sold as natural gas. The remaining solids are sold as nutrient-rich Loop biosolids, which are used for agriculture and habitat restoration.[8][6][7]
2017 Flood
References
- ^ Wilma, David. "Metro (Seattle) dedicates West Point Treatment Plant on July 20, 1966".
- ^ Wilma, David. "Secondary treatment of sewage begins at Seattle's West Point after years of controversy on December 31, 1995".
- ^ "History of our Mission". King County.
- ^ Zucco, Erica. "Climate change one of the 'biggest concerns' for Seattle wastewater treatment plant". King 5 News.
- ^ "West Point Treatment Plant".
- ^ a b "West Point Treatment Process".
- ^ a b "How West Point processes Seattle's sewage". Seattle Times.
- ^ "Loop".