City presents 20-year wastewater plan estimating $430 million in work; public raises sanitation and equity concerns

City staff presented an update on the 2024 Wastewater Comprehensive Plan to the Bremerton City Council on March 5, describing required upgrades and a 20-year capital and fiscal forecast that professional consultants estimated at about $270 million in present dollars and approximately $430,004,000 when escalated at 4% inflation over 20 years.

Bill Davis, who led the presentation, said the plan was prepared by consultant Kennedy Jenks and must be reviewed by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The plan includes a 20-year forecast, system modeling for six basins within the city, a new business risk and vulnerability assessment, and appendices with basin plans and interagency agreements (including agreements with Kitsap County Sewer District No. 1 and the Navy). The plan also evaluated the crosstown pipeline, the Puget Sound Industrial Center (PSIC) sewer feasibility, and projected upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant.

Key projects highlighted: - Oyster Bay/Ostrich Bay beach sewer upgrades to remove vulnerable beach sewer sections from service; work will proceed in phases and pursue loans and consultants. - Wastewater treatment plant outfall improvements, including installation of a parallel deep-water outfall, driven by…