SEATTLE — King County made a commitment to improve the region’s largest wastewater treatment plant after a power failure did major damage seven years ago.
On Friday, at West Point Treatment Plant, county officials unveiled a new high-voltage battery system.
The problem first happened in early February of 2017 during a night of heavy rain.
"It was certainly an important event for us. A sobering moment,” said Kamuron Gurol, director of the King County Wastewater Treatment Division.
The winter storm caused an early morning emergency.
"There was a momentary power fluctuation from Seattle City Light and that caused the pumps to trip and to turn off,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.
Safeguards designed to prevent flooding failed and workers were scrambling to get to safety. Massive damage was done at the plant, and wastewater, including 30 million gallons of sewage, went into the Puget Sound.
"In the aftermath the ecological studies, scientific studies showed that in part because of the time of the year there was less lasting damage than we feared, but we cannot have that risk continue,” said Constantine.
In 2021, Executive Constantine issued an emergency declaration to provide the plant with onside batteries for high-quality power.
"We delivered this in about three and half years,” said Gurol.
Included in the project are solar panels to power the building’s lights, heating, and ventilation.
"The region’s largest treatment plant is safer, more reliable, and more resilient to climate impacts thanks to the ingenuity of our employees and partners," said Constantine.