County recommends Landau for low‑level PCB/PBDE wastewater sampling; reclaimed‑water reuse questions raised

County staff told commissioners Feb. 18 they received two responses to an RFP for NPDS sampling at the Spokane Regional Water Reclamation Facility and recommended Landau Associates to conduct specialized low‑level sampling for PCBs and PBDEs.

Amy Sumner, who manages the sampling program, said those two parameters require careful and time‑intensive sampling and laboratory work and that the designated contractors have the necessary experience to sample influent and effluent and manage laboratory coordination. The sampling is required under the facility’s NPDS permit and staff described it as a recurring, higher‑cost monitoring obligation.

In a related discussion, commissioners asked what it would take to raise effluent quality to a level that could support reclaimed‑water uses (for example, reuse for irrigation). Staff said the primary challenges are (1) infrastructure and conveyance — how to deliver reclaimed water to users — and (2) redundancy and continuous quality assurance. If the county wanted to treat consistently to a higher reclaimed‑water standard, staff said it would require additional treatment trains, filtration, and a customer system to accept water; storage to hold water during excursions; and possibly water‑right or permitting considerations for wheeling water via the river. Staff said these options would require substantial capital investment and further study.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to explore options and estimated costs for further treatment and reuse scenarios; staff recommended approving the Landau sampling contract to meet permit obligations and return with more analysis on reclamation feasibility if the board wishes to pursue reuse.