The City of Snoqualmie Water Reclamation Facility Phase II recently received a prestigious 2021 Project of the Year achievement award from the American Public Works Association (APWA) state chapter in the Environment category. The organization honored the facility for its innovative design, cost savings, and environmental best practices.
Two goals for this city project included increasing the operational reliability of the solids handling system and reducing solids handling costs. Some improvements included: a new solids handling system; new aerobic digesters and aeration system; new operations building and control center; and new odor control systems. The city has saved approximately $400,000 in operating costs due to the improvements completed as part of this project.
Said Public Works Project Engineer Jeff Hamlin, “The Water Reclamation Facility Phase II project is a great success for the City of Snoqualmie. The new facilities significantly improve reliability and flexibility of operations, greatly reduce harmful impacts to the environment, and save the city a lot of money in operating costs. The success of this project is attributed to the fine work of some very talented engineers, contractors, and city staff who worked collaboratively to achieve a great result.”
Project Background
In 2015, a fire within the city’s Water Reclamation Facility became an opportunity to increase safety, improve reliability, and add more environmentally friendly processes. Constructed at the cost of $10.58 million, the Water Reclamation Facility is projected to save the city at least $4.2 million in operating costs over the next 10 years. The improvements have also helped earn the city honors from the Washington State Department of Ecology two years in a row.
About the APWA
The APWA is a nonprofit organization providing educational and networking opportunities that help public works personnel grow in their professions and improve the quality of life in the communities they serve.
Other recipients of this year’s statewide honors included the cities of Spokane, Kirkland, Bellevue, Lynden, Walla Walla, and Port Orchard, along with King and Snohomish counties.
Watch a video from the Washington APWA awards ceremony about the Water Reclamation Facility Phase II.
