MYNORTHWEST NEWS

130,000 gallons of sewage spill into Puget Sound after power outage

Dec 19, 2018, 5:48 AM

cso, sewage, seattle sewage, climate change, Washington State Department of Ecology, power outage...

A sign on the banks of Seattle's Lake Union warning that sewage spills into the lake during heavy rainfall. (Dyer Oxley, MyNorthwest)

(Dyer Oxley, MyNorthwest)

A windstorm that struck Shoreline caused massive quantities of wastewater to overflow into Puget Sound on Friday, Dec. 14.

RELATED: Seattle sewage plant having trouble keeping up with population

The windstorm caused a power outage at King County’s Richmond Beach Pump Station. That caused 130,000 gallons of sewage to overflow into Puget Sound.

Power was out at the pump station for approximately two hours. There were no ill effects in water quality found following the overflow.

This isn’t the first time something like this has been a problem in the Puget Sound region. Back in August 2018, the state fined King County $118,000 for wastewater overflows.

Amy Jankowiak, regional compliance coordinator for municipal wastewater treatment plants for the Washington State Department of Ecology, explained to KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson in August that many of the nation’s older municipal sewer systems send rainwater along with raw sewage into area bodies of water.

This is true for Seattle and much of King County around Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Puget Sound. The local system uses “combined sewage overflows,” which send the mixture out of the pipes and into lakes and Puget Sound.

In 2016, the Washington State Department of Ecology fined King County $63,500 for 23 violations that occurred over the previous year. The City of Seattle was also fined $33,500 for 10 violations from 2015.

After 250 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into Puget Sound in early 2017, the county was slapped with a $361,000 fine.

These overflows typically happen during heavy rain events when pipes become overwhelmed with stormwater. Over the last week, the region has been hit by a parade of storms causing power outages, making “heavy rain events” an almost daily occurrence.

Also affected by recent power outages was a state-run chinook salmon hatchery, where 6.2 million salmon fry died in incubators, after primary and backup generators failed.

RELATED: Damaged Seattle waste plant continues to dump sewage

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

9 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

10 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

11 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

12 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

13 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

16 hours ago

130,000 gallons of sewage spill into Puget Sound after power outage