Viewfinder: Brightwater Treatment Plant

After five years of construction work, the new Brightwater Treatment Facility is in the home stretch and is set to open this fall.

The wastewater treatment plant is just north of the intersection of state Route 9 and state Route 522 on about 114 acres that are home to the treatment plant as well as 43 acres of restored wilderness with meandering trails and a community center open to the public.

Construction started in 2006 and is slated to be finished in September, culminating in a celebration for the local community. On Sept. 24, Brightwater officials invite the community to come watch them flip the switch to start up the plant officially, take tours of the facility and visit natural habitat areas. Nine public art projects will be unveiled, with a chance to meet many of the artists. There will be music, refreshments, tribal drumming and dancing, as well as other activities.

Brightwater was built to accommodate the growth of north King and south Snohomish counties and includes the treatment plant, pipes and pumps taking wastewater to and from the plant, and a marine outfall for treated wastewater to enter Puget Sound. The underground pipes span Woodinville, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park and Shoreline, where the treated effluent will enter Puget Sound a mile off of Point Wells.

Project officials made a promise to the community to be a good neighbor, and they’ve taken various steps to do that: state-of-the-art technology has been employed so neighbors won’t smell the plant; landscaping has ensured that the plant is not an eyesore; and the restored natural habitat will be open from morning until dusk for the community to enjoy.

For more information, including maps of the facility and information on the grand opening celebration, visit King County's website at www.kingcounty.gov/Brightwater.