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Treatment Plant site and construction activities

King County is building, a new wastewater treatment system called Brightwater to serve the growing needs of north King County and south Snohomish County. Construction on the treatment plant site started in mid-2006. The system will be completed by 2010.

The treatment plant site (also known as the Route 9 site) is approximately 114 acres in size, located in unincorporated Snohomish County east of State Highway SR-9, just north of the intersection of SR-9 and SR-522.

The site will include wastewater treatment systems, biosolids production, and advanced treatment of a portion of the flows for reclaimed water uses like irrigation and industry. Along with the attractive facilities, there will be publicly accessible open space and trails, and a 40-acre area at the north end of the site for habitat restoration. See below for more details about this North Habitat Area.

Pre-construction activities started in mid-2006 with grading and site preparation. In the north habitat restoration area, streams and hills were created. Construction of the treatment plant is now underway.

Visit the project facilities web pages to learn more about the design of the Brightwater Treatment Plant and about treatment process, odor control, biosolids, and reclaimed water

This year people will see the beginning of construction of tanks and building foundations. For the north habitat area, more native plants will be planted and a field house will be built.

Construction Activities

Construction is expected to last until 2010

What can you expect during construction?

People can expect to see large amounts of dirt being moved with major site excavation, as well as stockpiling of soil, creation of landforms, and installation of temporary stormwater systems.

As earth moving occurs and construction materials are hauled to and from the site, you may experience temporary impacts including dust and vehicle emissions, construction noise, increased traffic, and views of construction activities.

King County is working with Snohomish County, the City of Woodinville, and the Washington State Department of Transportation to identify ways to reduce and mitigate construction impacts. Truck traffic will be limited during morning and afternoon commutes.

The North Habitat Area        to top

In addition to the treatment plant facilities, the site will include many acres of publicly accessible open space, trails and salmon habitat restoration. Forty of these acres are at the north end of the site and are called the North Habitat Area and will include native wildlife habitat, restored salmon streams, an educational field house, trails and boardwalks.

During the summer of 2006, stream beds, hills, boardwalks and trails were constructed. Following permit conditions, the existing large storm water pond just north of the Brightwater office was reshaped into an improved pond for storm water storage and treatment. All of the in-water construction was done during a 'fish window,' a period when permitting agencies allow work in or near fish habitat areas-this is a time when construction causes minimal impacts to fish migration and spawning cycles.

Habitat restoration includes the planting of over 22,000 plants including 5,000 seedling trees, as well as other native plant species.

This summer we will start constructing a field house in the North Habitat Area. The 1,500 square foot environmental building will have many green features, including:

• partial straw bale construction
• solar panels
• sustainable and recycled building materials
• a rainwater catchment system for irrigation of the demonstration gardens

The field house will also have demonstration gardens that will display native, edible, and drought-tolerant plants to show how we can design for the benefit of humans, wildlife, and the environment, without compromising visual beauty or practical function uses of a garden.

Want to learn more?

For construction-related questions and urgent issues, contact the construction information line at 206-205-5989 (remember to dial 911 for emergencies)

For general questions and information about Brightwater call 206-684-6799, or 711 for TTY access, or email us at: brightwater@kingcounty.gov

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King County Brightwater Project
22505 State Route 9
Woodinville, WA 98072-6010

Updated: January 4, 2008